Charges Irresponsibility, Misleading Advertising

The owner of a turboprop aircraft has retained an attorney and filed suit against a Groton, CT FBO and its owner after his plane was damaged by a fuel truck while in for repairs. The FBO acknowledges its role, and says it has insurance, but the lawsuit may be attempting to reach past the corporate "veil" to target the owner personally.

TheDay.com reports George Sampas flew his 2006 Socata TBM (similar plane pictured) to the Groton airport on August 9, 2011 to be repaired by Lanmar Aviation. In his complaint filed in U.S. District Court, Sampas alleges FBO employees completed the repairs, but then backed a fuel truck into the plane, forcing it off its chocks and damaging the tail and fuselage.

The suit claims that Lanmar, and its owner and president, Richard Polidori neglected to maintain standard operating and safety procedures, and adds that that the company's claim of high safety standards in its advertising is misleading. Sampas explained in a phone interview with TheDay, ""The fact that they didn't have adequate safety procedures in place is irresponsible. They advertise themselves as being a safe FBO."

The repairs are estimated at $400,000, but Sampas also wants $20,000 per month for loss of use, and claims that even after repairs, the plane won't be worth what it was before the damage was done. He wants a total of $690,000 in compensation, or for Lanmar to buy the plane from his for what it would have been worth before the accident.

Attorney Steven Arnold is representing Polidori, and has moved to dismiss the suit. He notes that Lanmar, through its insurance company, has acknowledged the company's responsibility, and says Sampas has no grounds to sue Polidori personally.

FMI: www.lanmaraviation.net ; www.tbm850.com