Canadian Seeks $500,000 in Damages, Trial Expected Next Year

We all knew it was going to happen. The first lawsuit has been filed against Andrew Speaker for drug-resistant tuberculosis exposure.

Speaker is the Atalnta lawyer who caused an international health scare in May when he continued with his transatlantic travel plans for his wedding, despite a tuberculosis diagnosis. He has since been found to be infected with a far less dangerous form of the disease than originally thought, as ANN reported.

Nissram Tabri, 26, from Canada, is seeking $500,000 in damages for himself and seven other passengers who had been seated near Speaker on a flight from Prague to Montreal, The Montreal Gazette reported Friday.

Tabri says he felt "hopeless and violated" when he learned of the exposure, according to United Press International.

"He deliberately got on this plane, endangered our lives and this is a very selfish and reckless behavior that deserves to be punished," he said.

According to Anlac Nguyen, Tabri's attorney, his client has tested negative so far, but will have to undergo further testing to confirm he is not a carrier.

Nguyen says he does not expect a trial until at least next year.

Speaker has said all along US doctors never advised him against transatlantic travel.

Speaker's itinerary included flights on: Air France flight 385 to Paris on May 12; Air France flight 1232 to Athens, Greece, on May 14; Olympic Air flight 560 to Thira Island, Greece, on May 16; Olympic Air flight 655 to Athens on May 21; Olympic Air flight 239 to Rome on May 21; Czech Airlines flight 727 to Prague, Czech Republic, on May 24; and Czech Airlines flight 0104 to Montreal, Canada on May 24.

From his hospital in Denver, Speaker said he was concentrating on recovery rather than possible legal action, according to the Associated Press.

"Right now I want to worry about my treatment and get home," he said. "I do hope that no one contracted this."

FMI: www.cdc.gov, www.njc.org