9/11 Security Lawsuit: Aviation companies face multi-billion lawsuit in connection with terrorist attacks
The Boston Herald reported that yesterday, on the 11th commemoration of the 9/11 attacks, that World Trade Center leaseholders asked a federal judge in Manhattan to set a trial date in their lawsuit against the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), American Airlines, United Airlines and other aviation companies.
"The suit - one of the last linked to the attacks 11 years ago today — could give the country its first courtroom airing of airport security blunders, and might end in a staggering jury award," states the article.
The lawsuit is among the last cases arising from thfjofe terrorist attacks and alleges that the defendants are liable for loss of property and business damages caused by the security failures that enabled the attacks. Whether the defendants should pay damages beyond what the plaintiffs already received from insurers may be a decision that's left in the hands of a jury.
Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, who has presided over the majority of 9/11 litigation, reportedly already ruled that the property owners may seek $2.8 billion in damages. The article states that, "the court could unseal confidential details on security failures at Logan" if the case makes it to trial.
"This could be bigger than your wildest imagination .… You don't have any idea what will happen if this goes to jury. Anything can happen," said Motley Rice attorney Don Migliori, who was cited in the article because of his experience with 9/11 litigation. Migliori represents 9/11 families who opted out of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund in the aviation security lawsuits, the last of which settled in September 2011, and also plays a central role on the ongoing anti-terrorism litigation against the alleged financiers and material supporters of Al Qaeda.
Read interviews with Migliori on Fox 25 News Boston, and articles featured by Reuters and Lawyer Herald; and watch an interview with ABC Channel 4 in Charleston featuring Motley Rice attorney Jodi Flowers. She also represents 9/11 families who opted out of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund in the aviation security lawsuits and also plays a central role on the ongoing anti-terrorism litigation.