Wu vs. Singapore Airlines

CASE SYNOPSIS

A jury awarded a brother and sister a total of $15 million for the loss of their parents during a Singapore airlines flight bound for Los Angeles that took off from Chiang Kai-Shek Airport in Taiwan. Brian Panish and Kevin Boyle of Panish Shea & Boyle LLP represented Sidney and Christina Wu on behalf of their parents, Ching Ying Wu and Richard Tzuen Ren Wu, both of whom were killed during the airplane crash.

Hopefully this case will get the message to this airline, and to other airlines, that you can’t put profits over safety and that you can’t jeopardize the lives of your passengers.

– Brian Panish

Panish Shea & Boyle LLP

The Boeing 747-400 involved in the crash took off from a closed runway during a typhoon, but failed to become airborne, instead crashing into airport construction equipment. The fuselage proceeded to break into three parts, and 82 of the 179 people onboard were killed. Singapore Airlines did not contest liability for the accident.

The jury awarded $3.5 million to each adult child for each parent lost, despite the airline suggesting that a sum of $1 million per parent per child be awarded. The noneconomic damages received were greater than the $6 million asked for on behalf of the plaintiffs for the wrongful deaths suffered by Mr. and Mrs. Wu.