Three top staffers, both current and former, have been roped in a USD6 billion (Ksh702 billion) suit relating to the Indonesia and Ethiopia plane cràshes.
A suit filed by American lawyer Manuel von Ribbeck of Ribbeck Law Chartered has roped in Dennis Muilenburg (former CEO), David Calhoun (current CEO) and Mark Forkner (former Chief Technical Pilot).
The làwsuit is over the two fàtal cràshes of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes; Lion Air Flight 610 in Indonesia and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in Ethiopia.
Ribbeck Law Chartered filed the complaint on behalf of Liu Chandra, a businessman who was a passenger onboard the Lion Air’s Boeing 737 Max 8 that cràshed in Indonesia.
According to the suit, prior to the cràshes, Boeing called Indonesian pilots ‘idiots’ for wanting more training.
Revelations in the suit show that employees made several requests for more training on the 737 MAX’s new systems.
“Now friggin Lion Air might need a sim to fly the MAX, and maybe because of their own stupidity. I’m scrambling trying to figure out how to unscrew this now!” read an email from Boeing Pilot Mark Forkner.
It is alleged that Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing’s former CEO, concealed the Boeing Max 8’s problems and instead blamed the airline’s pilots and maintenance practices.
“Muilenburg also influenced the FAA not to take corrective action,” stated Monica Kelly of Ribbeck Law Chartered.
David Calhoun, Boeing’s newest CEO, is accused of failing to prioritize safety issues, even after the crash in Indonesia, while serving as leader of Boeing’s Board of Directors.
It is alleged that he kept flying the whole fleet of Boeing 737 Max 8 planes, despite being informed that there was a mechanical problem with planes after the Indonesian cràsh.
“Our clients deserve their day in court. At their request we have sued the individuals in charge of making Boeing’s decisions, those who chose to and sacrificed 346 lives to make Boeing more profits. We will demand that a jury in Chicago decides the punįshment they deserve,” stated Monica Kelly.
The law firm estimates that Boeing will part with at least USD6 billion (approx. Ksh702 billion) in damages to compensate the cràsh victįms, investors and airlines, and in payment of fines imposed by the US Department of Justice in the crįminal case it filed against Boeing.
“USD 2.5 billion have already been paid by Boeing to settle the crįminal fràud charges filed against them by the US DOJ. Prior to that Boeing paid 100 million dollars to assist the families and communities involved in these two tragedies,” explained Mr von Ribbeck.
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