FlyersRights.org Takes Up Personal Injury Case With Travelers United

FlyersRights.org and Travelers United, have joined forces with an aggrieved airline passenger whose personal injury claim was denied by a Federal Appeals court.

In a short 2-1 decision, the 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals refused to recognize claims filed within 2 years in another country, unless also filed in a U.S. court with 2 years. There was, however, a lengthy dissenting opinion. FlyersRights.org and Travelers United have filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court in support of the aggrieved passenger's appeal.

In Von Schoenebeck v. KLM, a seat back collapsed on the head of a passenger on a flight from South Africa to San Francisco, causing severe spinal injuries. The airline refused compensation, even up to the strict liability amount found in the Montreal Convention. Instead, KLM sought a bond for its own attorney fees and costs from the passenger in the South African court of over $20,000, based on a law that discriminates against non-resident litigants. The airline suggested the passenger litigate in the United States.  But when the passenger filed in California, KLM sought and obtained dismissal based on a novel interpretation of the 2-year statute of limitations in the Montreal Convention, the treaty governing passenger rights in international air travel.

Paul Hudson, president of FlyersRights.org noted, "This is a shocking decision that needs review by the United States Supreme Court which has yet to interpret the Montreal Convention's statute of limitations."

"The Montreal Convention was designed to achieve global uniformity in the law governing claims against airlines.  It provides for both strict airline liability and strict limitations on compensation amounts.  But unless this decision is reversed, many airline passengers on international trips will now have to file claims against airlines in multiple national courts in order to preserve their compensation rights for flight delays, baggage loss and damage, as well as for personal injury and death."

FlyersRights.org also has an appeal pending in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the FAA's refusal to regulate seat size and leg room on airliners, see  Limitation Of Seat Size Reduction FAA-2015-4011. The court case is Flyers Rights Education Fund v FAA Case No. 16-1101.

It has also filed a rulemaking petition to the DOT to require airlines notify passengers of their delay compensation rights.

(Source: FlyersRights.org news release)

FMI: www.flyersrights.org