Boeing 737 Max8 Litigation

Clifford Law Offices has represented numerous victims and their families of those who were injured or killed in various air crash disasters, currently representing the families of more than 70 victims who lost loved ones in the Boeing 737 Max8 crash in Ethiopia.

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Clifford Law Offices has represented victims and their families in nearly every major commercial airline crash in the U.S. in the last 40 years as well as numerous small plane crashes around the United States.

For media inquiries, please contact our Communications Partner, Pamela Sakowicz Menaker, at 847-721-0909.

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580 CFRA: A new scathing report issued by the U.S. House of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee highlights Boeing’s errors leading up to the two 737 Max plane crashes, which killed 346 people. Evan Solomon speaks with Chris Moore (represented by Clifford Law Offices), father of Danielle Moore who died in the Boeing 737 Max crash in Ethiopia. Listen here.
Chicago Tribune: Paul Njoroge of Toronto, whose wife, three young children and mother-in-law died in the Ethiopia crash while traveling to Kenya to see grandparents, said the report revealed Boeing’s culture of putting profit ahead of safety. “There are instances in the report where some employees within Boeing tried to raise safety concern issues. But their concerns would be slammed by people within Boeing,” said Njoroge, represented by Clifford Law Offices, who is among those suing the company. Read full article here.
King 5: Brittney Riffel, the widow of a 737 MAX passenger, reacts to Congressional Boeing report. Her husband, Melvin, and his brother, Bennett, were on Ethiopia Airlines Flight 302, the second crash of a new Boeing 737 MAX. Mrs. Riffel is represented by Clifford Law Offices. Read full article here.
Reuters: While some of the Ethiopian crash victim families are considering a settlement, many are pursuing a jury trial, where an award can be much larger. Robert Clifford of Clifford Law Offices, which represents families of the Ethiopian crash victims, said 103 lawsuits have been filed against Boeing so far over the second crash, with 30 more cases expected to be filed soon. None have settled as of yet in the United States, he said. Read full article.
Global News: Bob Clifford, lead counsel representing family members of victims from the Ethiopian Airlines crash in a case against Boeing, speaks out to Global News regarding Ethiopian Airlines burial of crash victims without enough notice for families to attend. “We’re talking now eight months, post-crash, and that prolongs the agony, and the angst, and the grief and the suffering in unimaginable and unspeakable ways, and you know, it just seems that Ethiopian Airlines has been oblivious to this.” Read full article.
Business Insider: Unidentified victims’ remains from the March, 2019 crash of a Boeing 737 Max in Ethiopia were laid to rest on Thursday by workers from Ethiopian Airlines with little notice to their families. Robert A. Clifford, the lead counsel representing family members of victims from the Ethiopian Airlines crash in a case against Boeing, told Business Insider that the short notice given to family members was “shocking and deplorable.” Read full article.
NPR: Robert A. Clifford, the Lead Counsel in the U.S. federal district court litigation involving the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302’s Boeing 737 Max8 jet on March 10, 2019, was quoted about the design of the 737 Max. Read full article.
Business Insider: Boeing’s CEO was scheduled to testify before Congress about the Boeing 737 Max crash that happened in March 2019. Read full article.
CBC: Family members of people who died in the crash of Ethiopia Airlines flight 302 say they want Boeing held accountable. CBC News Interviews Paul Njoroge, whose wife, three children and mother in law died in the March 10 crash. Watch interview.
CNBC: Robert Clifford said in an email the complaint filed by Curtis Ewbank raises concerns about Boeing’s culture and whether the company placed too great an emphasis on cost and schedule at the expense of safety.
One America News: Robert Clifford said in an email the complaint filed by Curtis Ewbank raises concerns about Boeing’s culture and whether the company placed too great an emphasis on cost and schedule at the expense of safety.
Yahoo! Finance: “They say we don’t need Boeing’s charity, and to the extent that they need help from Boeing, Boeing’s not giving in on the one thing that most of them are anguishing about right now, and that’s the return of the remains, and the access to the crash site in Ethiopia,” said Robert A. Clifford. Read full article.
CNN: Bob Clifford, who represents dozens of families affected by the March 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash, told CNN Business earlier this month that the compensation offer from Boeing was “disingenuous” and “vague.” “Half of the fund for relief is a problem,” he said in a July statement. “Even giving Boeing its due, it missed its mark because they added a new layer of confusion to expedient and efficient relief to these families.” Clifford added that if Boeing “wanted to give real relief to the families, they should work with the insurance partners of Ethiopian Airlines to expedite payments to the families.” Read full article.
BBC: Robert A Clifford, lead counsel for the Ethiopian Airlines 302 litigation, said the lack of detail at the time of the initial announcement suggested Boeing saw it primarily as a way to divert attention from the safety questions. Family members, many of whom would like to see memorials erected, continue to have questions about how the company intends to spend the other $50m, he added. “One of the most haunting things about an aviation disaster like this is that the families do not in many instances get anything back,” he said. Read full article.
Markets Insider: Relatives and friends who lost loves one in the Boeing 737 Max8 crash organized a vigil outside the DOT on September 10^th. The group invited the staff of DOT, the FAA and the U.S. House and Aviation Subcommittees along with their staff.
Daily Herald: “These families continue to be unbelievably brave,” said Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices, an internationally acclaimed aviation firm in Chicago that represents dozens of families in the Boeing crash of March 10. “Their fight to make the flying public safe is one of the most selfless acts I have ever seen in my career as an aviation attorney. Instead of burying their heads on this six-month anniversary, they choose to be very public about the tragedy they suffered and want to ensure that the plane is safe before is it allowed to fly again.”
Fox 34: Families and friends of those who lost loved ones in the March 10^th Boeing 737 Max8 crash in Ethiopia held a vigil in front of the DOT on Tuesday, September 10th, 2019.
Crain’s Chicago Business: Veteran plaintiffs attorney Bob Clifford was named the lead lawyer for dozens of victim lawsuits stemming from one of the two Boeing 737 Max crashes. Read full article.
Law 360: A federal jury has awarded $16.75 million to three people in the first trial over a major Amtrak train derailment near DuPont, Washington, in 2017. Many more suits are waiting in the wings, according to a lawyer for the three plaintiffs, Kristofer Riddle of Clifford Law Offices, who represents 25 more clients in connection with the crash. “I’m happy that the Wilmottes and Dale Skyllingstad had their day in court. They only get one day in court, and they have to live with the results of this crash for the next 40-plus years,” Riddle said by phone Monday. “The Tacoma jury heard the facts and ultimately gave a verdict that’s reflective of the conscience of the community.” Read full article.
New York Times: A federal jury awarded three people who sued over a deadly Amtrak derailment in Washington state nearly $17 million for damages. Clifford Law Offices, which represented the victims, also represent dozens more.
NBC News: A federal jury has awarded three people who sued over a deadly Amtrak derailment in Washington state nearly $17 million for damages. Clifford Law Offices, which represented the victims, also represent dozens more. Read full article.
Corporate Crime Reporter: “These families continue to be unbelievably brave,” said Robert A. Clifford, who represents dozens of families in the Boeing crash of March 10. “Their fight to make the flying public safe is one of the most selfless acts I have ever seen in my career as an aviation attorney. Instead of burying their heads on this six-month anniversary, they choose to be very public about the tragedy they suffered and want to ensure that the plane is safe before it is allowed to fly again.” Read full article.
Politico Pro: Relatives of those killed on board a Boeing 737 MAX that crashed in Ethiopia met with Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao for two hours at DOT headquarters today, the six-month anniversary of the crash, which killed 157 people. Read full article.
Business Insider: Nadia Milleron, the mother of Samya Stumo, one of the Boeing 737 Max victims, protested in front of the FAA offices in response to Federal Aviation Administration officials’ statements before Congress on July 31st, 2019. Read full article.
Corporate Crime Reporter: The mother of one of the Boeing 737 Max victims protested at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Headquarters, calling for the resignation and criminal prosecution of FAA safety chief Ali Bahrami. The Stumo family lawyer, Robert Clifford, was quoted in the article. Read full article.
Business Insider: Paul Njoroge, a father who lost his whole family in the March Boeing crash, gave an emotional testimony to US Congress. “Boeing is just trying to play some games in people’s minds, just like they played games with people’s lives,” he said. He is represented by Clifford Law Offices. Read full article.
ABC7 Chicago: Lisa Fletcher, ABC Senior Investigative Reporter, reports on Boeing’s intense scrutiny on Capitol Hill during an emotional hearing on the deadly Boeing 737 Max 8 jet crashes. She sits down with Paul Njoroge, a father who lost his whole family in the March Boeing crash, after he testified on Wednesday, July 17th. Njoroge is represented by Clifford Law Offices, who is representing families all over the world who also lost loved ones in the crash. Read full article.
Seattle Times: The Seattle Times quotes Robert Clifford, and his client, a Canadian man whose wife, three children and mother-in-law were killed in the crash in Ethiopia of a Boeing 737 MAX jet in March. Clifford Law Offices is representing families from all over the world who also lost loved ones in the crash. Read full article.
Global News: Robert A. Clifford was quoted in an article titled, “Toronto man who lost family in Boeing crash doubts he’ll see share of $50M fund.” Read full article.
CBC: Chicago aviation lawyer, Robert Clifford, sued Boeing on behalf of Paul Njoroge over the deaths of his wife, Carol, his son and daughters, six-year-old Ryan, four-year-old Kelli and nine-month-old Rubi, and his wife’s mother. They died on the March 10th crash of an Ethiopian Airlines’ Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. Read full article.
CNN: Bob Clifford, who represents dozens of families affected by the March 2019 crash of a Boeing 737 Max in Ethiopia, quoted in CNN Business regarding Boeing’s shifted stance on how it plans to compensate families of those who died in two 737 Max crashes in the last year. Read full article.
Business Insider: “Even giving Boeing its due, it missed its mark,” said Robert A. Clifford, aviation attorney representing more than 23 victims’ families, “because they added a new layer of confusion to expedient and efficient relief to these families.” Read full article.
Bloomberg: Paul Njoroge, a father who lost his whole family in the March Boeing crash, gave an emotional testimony to US Congress. “Boeing should not be allowed to act like a mere investment company extracting wealth to super-charge shareholder returns at the expense of safety and quality,” Njoroge said in the prepared remarks, provided by his attorney, Robert A. Clifford of Chicago. Read full article.
BBC: Paul Njoroge, whose family died in the March 10 crash of the Boeing 737 Max8 crash in Ethiopia, gave an emotional testimony to US Congress. Sitting at the witness bench along with Mr. Njoroge was Michael Stumo, who lost his daughter, Samya Rose Stumo, in the crash. Njoroge and Stumo’s immediate families are represented by Clifford Law Offices, who is representing families all over the world who also lost loved ones in the crash. Read full article.
Reuters: Paul Njoroge, whose family died in the March 10 crash of the Boeing 737 Max8 crash in Ethiopia, testified in Congress at a hearing on Wednesday, July 17th. Njoroge’s immediate family is represented by Clifford Law Offices, who is representing families all over the world who lost loved ones in the crash. Read full article.
Crain’s Chicago Business: “Boeing should not be allowed to act like a mere investment company extracting wealth to super-charge shareholder returns at the expense of safety and quality,” Njoroge said when he testified in Congress in prepared remarks provided by his attorney, Robert A. Clifford of Chicago. Read full article.
Corporate Crime Reporter: Robert A. Clifford was profiled in an article titled, “Robert Clifford on the Case Against Boeing.” Read full article.
Fortune: “One of the reasons why this proposal is not being well received is that the families are getting tired of having Boeing define money as their compensation,” said Robert Clifford of Clifford Law Offices, which is representing families of dozens of victims of the Ethiopian Airlines crash. “The families want to know what Boeing knew, when they knew it, and what they’re doing to change it.” Read full article.
Chicago Sun-Times: Bob Clifford quoted in the Chicago Sun Times about Boeing’s $100 Million 737 MAX Fund Offer. “For the totality of these losses, that is a very small number,” said Robert Clifford, who represents relatives of those killed in the March crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Max. “I wouldn’t even say it’s a good start.” Read full article.
CNN: The news about Boeing’s $100 Million 737 MAX Fund Offer was not well received by the relatives of victims who have sued the company, according to attorney Bob Clifford, who represents dozens of families affected by the March 2019 crash of a Boeing 737 Max in Ethiopia. “This type of offer so early in the litigation process is unprecedented,” Clifford said in an emailed statement. “Because there is still so much to learn about what occurred, it also appears to be disingenuous.” Read full article.
The Seattle Times: Robert Clifford, who has brought lawsuits in the Ethiopian crash on behalf of 23 families from 18 countries, among them eight U.S. families, called Boeing’s payment offer “unprecedented.” Read full article.
Business Insider: “At best it’s a gesture, at worst it’s a token effort to address problems that aren’t foremost on the minds of these families,” aviation attorney Bob Clifford said about Boeing’s $100 Million 737 MAX Fund Offer. “What’s foremost on their minds is getting back remains from the crash site, so they can hold memorials and get some closure — why isn’t Boeing putting that money towards speeding up the process?” Read full article.
Forbes: Boeing’s $100 Million 737 MAX Fund Offer ‘Is Disingenuous,’ says Bob Clifford, aviation attorney and lawyer for dozens of families who lost loved ones in the airline manufacturer’s 737 Max8 aircraft crash in Ethiopia. Read full article.
NY Daily News: Robert A. Clifford was quoted saying, “Boeing does not understand that the families at this point in time are not interested in its money,” Clifford said in an e-mailed statement to the Daily News. “The fact is that what is foremost on the minds of these families is getting back the human remains from the crash site. To date that process has been torturously slow without a great deal of communication from Ethiopia. If Boeing really wanted to help, it would take all that money and devote it to accelerating the remains recovery/identification process for these families.” Read full article.
USA Today: Robert Clifford, an attorney for dozens of families of the crash victims, said Boeing’s gesture “is not a good start.” He said for the families, trying to recover the bodies of loved ones who died in the accident and find out what brought down the jet is the bigger issue. Read full article.
Bloomberg: Robert Clifford, aviation lawyer for dozens of families who lost loved ones in the Boeing 737 Max8 aircraft crash in Ethiopia, called the new offer “highly unusual.” He noted that such pledges of assistance after a crash often come with stipulations or limits. Read full article.
Times Union: Robert A. Clifford, lawyer for dozens of families who lost loved ones in the crash of the Boeing 737 Max8 aircraft in Ethiopia, responds to Boeing’s pledge to create a $100 million fund addressing “family and community needs”. “For the totality of these losses, that is a very small number,” he said. “I wouldn’t even say it’s a good start.”
Yahoo! News: Robert A. Clifford who is representing dozens of victims’ families who have lost loved ones in the 2019 Boeing 737 Max8 crash, was quoted in the article titled, “Canadians demand accountability from Boeing as they grapple with wrenching loss of loved ones.” Read full article.
Politico.com: Robert A. Clifford was quoted in the article titled, “Dickson vote lined up for after recess.” Read full article.
Law360: “The fact is that there are many, many families who will not even consider talking about resolution until they know and there’s some transparency about what Boeing knew, when they knew it, what they did with the information and what they are doing to make sure something like this can’t happen again in future,” Bob Clifford told Law360 in their “Boeing Ordered To Produce Ethiopian Crash Docs” article. Read full article.
AP News: Robert Clifford, a Chicago lawyer who filed lawsuits on behalf of nearly two dozen victims of the Ethiopian crash, quoted in “Boeing aims to finish software fix to 737 Max in September” article.
The Wall Street Journal: Aviation crash attorney, Robert A. Clifford, quoted in the article titled, “Boeing Looks to Settle 737 MAX Crash Claims.” Read full article.
Reuters: Robert A. Clifford was quoted in the article titled, “Boeing Sees Fix for Latest 737 MAX Software Flaw in September.” Read full article.
Business Insider: Robert A. Clifford was quoted in a Business Insider article titled, “Behind Boeing’s offer to settle with victims’ families in a 737 Max crash is a hardball legal strategy that could leave them with nothing.” Read full article.
Bloomberg: Clifford Law quoted in Bloomberg’s “‘There Was Nothing Left’: Agony Deepens for 737 Victims’ Families” article. Read full article.
Law.com: Clifford Law quoted in Law.com’s “Two Canadians Who Lost 10 Family Members in Ethiopian Crash Sue Boeing” article. Clifford Law Offices is representing the families of 10 Canadians who were killed in the tragic crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Max8 aircraft. Read full article.
ABC 7: Clifford Law Offices of Chicago and Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy of San Francisco filed lawsuits on Monday on behalf of the families of 10 Canadians who were killed in the tragic crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 in March. Read full article.
New China: Aviation attorney, Kevin Durkin, partner at Clifford Law Offices, is quoted in an article titled, “Families of Boeing 737 Max crash victims file suit against Boeing in Chicago.” Read full article.
Law 360: Clifford Law Offices filed lawsuits on Monday, April 29, 2019, on behalf of the families of 10 Canadians who were killed in the tragic crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Max8 aircraft. Read full article.
Bloomberg: Aviation attorney Bob Clifford quoted in Bloomberg’s “Boeing Accused of Negligence in New Suits by Victims’ Families” article. “If they deny their negligence, we are going to seek every single email, text message between them and the FAA,” Clifford told reporters. Read full article.
NBC 5: Ethiopian Crash press conference at Clifford Law Offices on April 29th included in an NBC segment titled, “Boeing CEO Defends Safety Record Amid 2 Deadly Crashes.” Watch full segment.
Reuters: The April 29th press conference at Clifford Law Offices was mentioned in the article titled, “Boeing CEO keeps job intact after facing questions on 737 MAX crashes.” Read full article.
City News: Clifford Law Offices filed lawsuits on behalf of the families of 10 Canadians who were killed in the tragic crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Max8 aircraft. “This crash is tragic for every family who lost loved ones, but these families from Canada are particularly impacted because the Vaidyas lost three generations — grandparents, parents and children,” Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices in Chicago said. Read full article.
Global News: Robert A. Clifford quoted in Global News article about the families of 10 Ontario residents who were killed in the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash filing wrongful death lawsuits. Read full article.
CTV News: Kevin Durkin is interviewed by CTV News about the wrongful lawsuits filed against Boeing. Watch interview.
News Channel5: Kevin Durkin was quoted in an article titled, “Legal trouble piles up against Boeing as company’s shareholders file lawsuit.” Read full article.
Crain’s Chicago News: “Those planes should never fly again” and consumers should boycott the jets, Ralph Nader said, speaking by telephone during a press conference at Clifford Law Offices. “Those planes — the 737 Max 8 — must be recalled.” Read full article.
WGN Radio: Clifford Law Offices Partner Kevin Durkin explains why his firm is suing Boeing over the crash of a 737-Max Ethiopian Airlines flight crash. Listen to the interview.
ABC News: Kevin Durkin, of Clifford Law Offices, speaks at a press conference about the first lawsuit stemming from the Ethiopian Airlines crash that was filed in Chicago by the family of a 24-year-old American woman killed in the disaster, who is the great niece of consumer advocate icon Ralph Nader. Read full article.
Chicago Tribune: Press conference at Clifford Law Offices about the federal suit against Boeing covered by Chicago Tribune in an article titled, “Business Ralph Nader: Boeing 737 Max ‘should never fly again.’” Read full article.
SF Gate: Family of American woman killed in Ethiopian 737 Max crash sues Boeing, FAA. “This crash should never have happened,” said Robert Clifford, an attorney representing the family. “The shortcuts and greed of Boeing and others will be proven in the ensuing lawsuits as well as the utter disregard of the passengers they were to protect that could have avoided this tragic crash.”
Chicago Sun Times: Press conference at Clifford Law Offices about the federal suit against Boeing covered in Chicago Sun-Times article titled, “Relatives of Ralph Nader sue Boeing over Ethiopian Airlines crash.” Read full article.
The Washington Post: Robert A. Clifford was quoted in a article about the Boeing 737 Max 8 jetliner crash. Clifford stated, “This crash should never have happened. The shortcuts and greed of Boeing and others will be proven in the ensuing lawsuits as well as the utter disregard of the passengers they were to protect that could have avoided this tragic crash.” Read full article.
CNN: “American family files wrongful death lawsuit in Ethiopian Airlines crash.” This is the first suit on behalf of an American, said the family’s attorneys from the Clifford Law Offices of Chicago and Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy of San Francisco. Read full article.
ABC News: Kevin Durkin is quoted and his statement at the press conference in ABC News article titled, “First lawsuit filed in Ethiopian Airlines crash by the family of consumer advocate Ralph Nader’s niece.” Read full article.
Times Union: The first lawsuit was filed Thursday, April 4th, 2019 on behalf of an American citizen involving the deadly Boeing crash. The family is being represented by Clifford Law Offices of Chicago and Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy of San Francisco. Read full article.
San Francisco Chronicle: Robert A. Clifford writes for SF Chronicle’s Open Forum: “Air travelers — demand changes in how planes are certified.” Read full article.
WGN Radio: Aviation attorney and Clifford Law Offices partner Kevin Durkin discusses the liability of Boeing & airlines in the wake of recent airplane crashes. Listen to the radio interview.
Crain’s Chicago Business: Kevin Durkin quoted in Crain’s Chicago Business article, “Will Boeing face criminal charges for 737 Max crashes?” Read full article.
Bloomberg: Kevin Durkin quoted in Crain’s Chicago Business article “Boeing criminal probe rare in U.S. for a planemaker after crash”. Read full article.
Bloomberg: Chicago aviation attorney Kevin Durkin of Clifford Law Offices, quoted in Bloomberg’s article “Will Boeing Face U.S. Criminal Charges for 737 Max Crashes?” Read full article.
Irish Examiner: Kevin Durkin quoted in The Sydney Morning Herald’s article, “Boeing crisis: Growing trouble as airlines consider slashing orders.” Read full article.
The Sydney Morning Herald: Kevin Durkin quoted in The Sydney Morning Herald’s article, “Boeing’s lawsuit risks soar around second 737 Max disaster.” Read full article.
CBS Chicago: Kevin Durkin, aviation attorney and partner at Clifford Law Offices, quoted in CBS Chicago’s article, “Congress To Investigate Boeing 737 Max 8 Approval Process.” Read full article.
SF Gate: Aviation attorney Kevin Durkin, a partner at Clifford Law Offices, quoted in SF Gate’s article about the Boeing 737 Max disaster.
Chicago Tribune: Kevin Durkin, Chicago aviation attorney, quoted in Chicago Tribune article “Chicago-based Boeing faces soaring lawsuit risks around second 737 Max disaster.”
Bloomgberg: Aviation attorney Kevin Durkin, partner at Clifford Law Offices, quoted in Bloomberg’s “Boeing’s Lawsuit Risks Soar Around Second 737 Max Disaster” article. Read full article.
NBC5 Chicago: Richard Burke, Chicago aviation attorney and partner at Clifford Law Offices, is interviewed on NBC5 Chicago about the Boeing 737 Max disaster. Watch Video.
Insurance Journal: Kevin Durkin, Partner at Clifford Law Offices, quoted in “Satellites Found 1st Concrete Evidence of Link Between Boeing 737 MAX Crashes” article. Read full article.
Crain’s Chicago Business: Bob Clifford, founder of one of the most prominent plaintiff-side law firms in Chicago, is quoted by Crain’s Chicago Business in response to the Boeing 737 Max 8 disaster in Ethiopia. Read full article.
Chicago Sun-Times: The Chicago Sun-Times quotes Robert A. Clifford, whose personal injury law firm has been involved in lawsuits involving many plane crashes around the world, about the recent Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes. Read full editorial article.
Chicago Sun-Times: Robert A. Clifford, top Aviation attorney, speaks out about the Ethiopian air crash to the Chicago Sun-Times. Read full article.