Victims sued to reverse case that was closed after $2.5 billion settlement.
Family members of the people killed in two Boeing 737 MAX crashes plan to speak before a federal court on Thursday, arguing that the $2.5 billion settlement between Boeing and the Department of Justice (DOJ) should be reversed. The crashes occurred in 2018 and 2019, killing a total of 364 people and prompting Congress to immediately pass legislation reforming airplane certification. Without notifying the families, the Department of Justice opened a case against Boeing in January 2021, which was quickly settled through a plea deal. Boeing paid $500 million in victim compensation, a $243.6 million fine and $1.7 billion in compensation to airlines in exchange for the DOJ granting the company immunity from criminal prosecution.
The families argued that the Justice Department “lied and violated their rights through a secret process,” and asked U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor to rescind Boeing’s immunity from criminal prosecution. Paul G. Cassell, a lawyer representing relatives of those killed, said the “families look forward to addressing the company responsible for their loved ones’ deaths at the hearing.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For God to be with families as they seek just through the American legal system.
- For God’s will to be accomplished through the officials in the Department of Justice and the federal court system.
- For the Lord to guide Judge O’Connor as he presides over this case.
Sources: AP, Reuters
