Chicago Sun-Times – February 2025
The family of a 14-year-old boy who was killed when a Fuller’s Car Wash employee lost control of a Jeep on July 17, 2023, said they are “patient and determined” to get justice for their son as Fuller’s filed for bankruptcy, delaying court testimony in the wrongful death suit filed by Clifford Law Offices. “Even after killing a child and injuring others, the Fullers are trying to avoid the truth, accountability, and public safety,” the boy’s family said in a statement. “We are familiar with the old saying that justice delayed is justice denied. And once again, Fuller’s are using every trick in the book to delay our day in court.” Read the full article here.
Chicago Tribune – February 2025
The family of a 14-year-old boy who died from injuries sustained in a crash outside Fuller’s Car Wash in Hinsdale on July 17, 2023, is questioning the timing of last week’s bankruptcy filing by Fuller’s. A statement issued Friday by Bradley Cosgrove and Charles Haskins, partners at Clifford Law Offices in Chicago, the firm representing the Richards family, stated the family was not surprised that the bankruptcy was filed on January 29, “just hours before its responsible parties were set to have their depositions taken in the wrongful death matter.” The Richards family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Fuller’s. Read the full article here.
WGN TV – February 2025
The owners of Fuller’s Car Wash filed for bankruptcy amid a wrongful death lawsuit that alleges a history of negligence and lack of safety precautions on the business premises. The filing came “just hours before its responsible parties were set to have their depositions taken in the wrongful death matter,” announced Clifford Law Offices on January 29, 2025. Bradley Cosgrove, partner at the firm who is representing the family of the boy, said, “There must be accountability for what occurred, not only for Sean and his family but for everyone who frequents that area in Hinsdale. This lawsuit sends a message to all business owners that safety must come first.” Read the full article here.
WGN Radio – February 2025
Bob Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, joined host Karen Conti on WGN Radio’s Legally Speaking to discuss the deadly mid-air collision between an American Airlines commercial jet and a military helicopter that killed 67 people. Listen here.
Fox 32 Chicago – January 2025
Aviation attorney Robert Clifford, who is considered the authority on aviation litigation, spoke to Fox 32 about the tragedy at Reagan National, saying that he believes all military traffic around the airfield needs to be grounded until further notice and staffing inside the control tower is addressed immediately. “It created a confluence of too much activity, which has been discussed for quite some time in that community, and finally, the tragedy has occurred.” Clifford is the lead counsel representing the families in the litigation against Boeing in the crash of Ethiopian Flight 302 in 2019. Watch the full video here.
Fortune – January 2025
A preliminary report from the FAA says one air traffic controller was working two positions at the time of the midair collision of a passenger jet and military helicopter in DC. Aviation attorney Robert A. Clifford stated the crowded airspace around Reagan National Airport was well known before the crash and said that the airport is “very unique” due to its proximity to the capital and highly restricted airspace. Clifford further stated, “Because of the massive military presence in our capital, the Pentagon, and a number of bases, there’s understandably a lot of military aircraft in the area.” Read the full article here.
The Philadelphia Inquirer – January 2025
Challenging even the most experienced pilots, aviation experts have long worried the congestion in the airspace around Reagan National Airport could lead to catastrophe. Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, says the U.S. government should temporarily halt military helicopter flights in the airspace that is used by commercial airlines near Reagan National. “I can’t get over how stunningly clear it is that this was a preventable crash and this should never, ever have occurred,” Clifford said. “There have been discussions for some time about the congestion associated with that and the potential for disaster. And we saw it come home last night.” Read the full article here.
USA Today – January 2025
Lawmakers are questioning whether congestion at Reagan National Airport played a role in Wednesday’s midair collision between an American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk military helicopter. Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, lead counsel representing families of the victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max crash, is calling for an immediate grounding of all military aircraft using the airspace until this is sorted out. “It’s long known within local Washingtonian circles that there’s a lot of congestion at the Reagan airport,” Clifford said. “You have this cross-pollination of use by the commercial operators and the military in an area that’s restricted because it’s right next door to the capital.” Read the full article here.
Fox News – January 2025
Aviation attorney Robert A. Clifford commented on the collision of a commercial American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter at Reagan National in DC, saying aviation rules may have been violated and that it was a “needless loss of life.” He noted that audio from air traffic control shows that they gave the Black Hawk directions twice, but there was no response before the crash. “It’s obviously too soon to tell, though the finger-pointing is beginning already when you have the CEO of American Airlines pointing his fingers at the air traffic controller and the helicopter and their communications,” Clifford said. “So there will be, but there’s plenty of time for all of that, but certainly this was a needless loss of life.” Read the full article here.
Yahoo! News – January 2025
Aviation attorney Robert A. Clifford is calling for immediate changes to prevent future tragedies following the midair collision at Reagan National in DC. Clifford is the lead counsel lead representing the families in the litigation against Boeing in the crash of Ethiopian Flight 302 in 2019. He suggests that military flights should be grounded and staffing inside the control tower needs to be immediately addressed. “We don’t have proper equipment communications between the incoming aircraft and the helicopters, and of course, now we’ve got overworked ATC people in the local tower,” he said. “Who is the victim of that? We are. We, the traveling public.” Read the full article here.
Law360 – January 2025
Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, lead counsel representing families of the victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max crash, says this is a “fluid and dynamic situation” and that more facts will come out of the NTSB investigation. Regarding litigation, there will be complications with the crossover between civilian and military aircraft and also due to the U.S. government air traffic control issues that are a factor. Clifford stated, “Any claims against American Airlines and its local regional operator will be civil claims filed by the families seeking compensation for the wrongful deaths with demands for trial by jury. In contrast, any military or governmental claim is something determined by a federal judge alone.” Read the full article here.
Fox 32 Chicago – January 2025
Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, was interviewed by Fox 32, saying that after additional flights were added last May, the airspace around Reagan National has become too crowded. “It created a confluence of too much activity, and that has been discussed for quite some time in that community,” Clifford said. “And finally, a tragedy has occurred.” He also suggests that military aircraft should be grounded and control tower staffing should be addressed immediately. “We don’t have proper equipment communications between the incoming aircraft and the helicopters, and of course, now we’ve got overworked ATC people in the local tower,” he said. “Who is the victim of that? We are. We, the traveling public.” Read the full article here.
NBC Chicago – January 2025
The National Transportation Safety Board began its investigation into the deadly mid-air collision between an American Airlines commercial jet and a military helicopter, killing 67 people. Aviation attorney Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, commented that the crowded airspace was well known before the crash and that Reagan National is very unique because of its proximity to the highly restricted airspace around the nation’s capital. “There have been discussions for some time about the congestion associated with that and the potential for disaster. And we saw it come home last night,” Clifford said. Read the full article here.
PBS News – January 2025
Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices and aviation attorney involved in every major commercial airline disaster in the U.S. in the last four decades, commented on the devastating mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that happened on January 29th, 2025. “I can’t get over how stunningly clear it is that this was a preventable crash, and this should never, ever have occurred,” Clifford said. He added, “There have been discussions for some time about the congestion associated with that and the potential for disaster. And we saw it come home last night.” Read the full article here.
Associated Press – January 2025
Aviation attorney Robert Clifford called on the Department of Transportation, Defense Department, and the FAA to immediately halt all military helicopters in the airspace surrounding Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. “I can’t get over how stunningly clear it is that this was a preventable crash and this should never, ever have occurred,” Clifford said. Given the previous close calls and crowded airspace over the airport, he also added, “There have been discussions for some time about the congestion associated with that and the potential for disaster. And we saw it come home last night.” Read the full article here.
MSN – January 2025
Aviation leaders weighed in on ongoing concerns surrounding congested air space and staffing issues surrounding Reagan National Airport prior to the deadly crash between an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter on January 29, 2025. International aviation attorney Robert A. Clifford emphasized that the crash was preventable, stating, “I can’t get over how stunningly clear it is that this was a preventable crash and this should never, ever have occurred,” Clifford said. “There have been discussions for some time about the congestion associated with that and the potential for disaster. And we saw it come home last night.” Read the full article here.
ABC 12 KSAT – January 2025
Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, shared professional insight on the deadly January 29 crash of an American Airlines jet and a U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter, saying the incident was “preventable” and “should never, ever have occurred.” Clifford urged the U.S. government to suspend military helicopter flights in the airspace shared with Reagan National Airport while investigations continue. Read the full article here.
ABC 19 WXOW – January 2025
In the aftermath of a deadly mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., top aviation attorney Robert A. Clifford spoke out about the preventable nature of the tragedy. He emphasized the critical need for enhanced safety protocols and proper air traffic control to prevent such disasters, especially considering past concerns surrounding the congestion in the air space and failing communication between the towers and pilots. “This should never have occurred,” he stated, stressing the importance of litigation in pushing for meaningful change in aviation safety standards. Read the full article here.
Minnesota Star Tribune – January 2025
Chicago aviation attorney Robert A. Clifford spoke out on the deadly mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, emphasizing the long-standing concerns about the airport’s congested airspace and faulty communication. Clifford stated, “There have been discussions for some time about the congestion associated with that and the potential for disaster. And we saw it come home last night.” His comments highlight the need for improved industry-wide aviation safety measures. Read the full article here.
Law.com – January 2025
Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, called for the families of victims in the January 29 collision of an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter over the Potomac River to seek litigation as a means to put an end to preventable aviation disasters. “When they don’t put skin in the game, how do you force them to put skin in the game?” Clifford also commented, “That’s one of the positives of litigation because, without it, there’s no penalty. When you eliminate punitive damages, it’s just a cost of doing business to pay off the families in litigation.” Clifford is an aviation lawyer and lead counsel in the litigation against Boeing in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash that killed all 157 on board across 35 countries and several continents. Read the full article here.
Newsweek – January 2025
Preliminary details suggest human error potentially contributed to the mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025. Top aviation attorney Robert A. Clifford spoke to Newsweek, expressing the need for the airspace surrounding the crash site to remain clear during investigations. “The FAA must immediately suspend all helicopter flights in the airspace of Reagan National Airport until the investigation is complete and any NTSB recommendations are implemented. The risks are simply too high,” he commented. Read the full article here.
ABC 7 News – January 2025
Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, spoke to ABC 7 News on January 29 regarding the devastating mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. “Of course, the investigations have to play out,” he shared, adding that NTSB investigations will “identify all the causative facts, the things that led up to this terrible tragedy.” Watch the full interview here.
FTN News – January 2025
Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices and aviation attorney involved in every major commercial airline disaster in the U.S. in the last four decades, commented on the devastating mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport January 29, 2025: “A mid-air collision immediately leads to questions about FAA air traffic control failures, possible pilot error, and aircraft traffic collision avoidance system performance, all of which the NTSB will be looking at along with all other aspects of the investigation. This is not the first air traffic safety incident at Reagan National Airport in the last year. The aviation community has been sounding the alarm on an increasing number of close calls since 2023.” Read the full article here.
Law.com – January 2025
A class-action lawsuit against Allstate Insurance was filed on January 14, 2025, by Morgan & Morgan and Clifford Law Offices alleging that the data of more than 45 million consumers was used to raise premiums. The lawsuit was highlighted in “Class Actions: Critical Mass,” a weekly briefing from Law.com. Read the full article here.
MSN – January 2025
Robert Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices and Marist High School class of 1969, announced a $1 million gift to support the school’s mission through scholarships and financial aid to students. Mr. Clifford was recognized as a distinguished alumnus at Marist High School’s second annual “A Night of Honor, Glory and Fame” and shared his personal journey of achievement and reaffirmed his strong connection to the Marist community. In his speech, he stated, “The whole notion of coming from Marist and being part of Marist’s community has really inspired me to be someone who has tried to achieve and do good deeds.” Read the full article here.
Law360 – January 2025
On Thursday, January 16, 2025, an Illinois Appellate Court panel ruled to uphold a $6 million Cook County jury verdict in a suit accusing Dr. Holly Carobene and pain management clinic Comprehensive Pain Care of causing the June 2015 death of Ebeilda Ramirez by hydrocodone toxicity. The healthcare providers argued that the evidence brought against them was speculative; however, the three-judge panel dismissed the argument that the expert testimony provided in the case was speculative: “It is a simple fact that if Dr. Carobene had not been prescribing hydrocodone to Ramirez, for whatever reason, then Ramirez would not have had the hydrocodone that killed her.” Patrick Bradley, of counsel at Clifford Law Offices and attorney for Ramirez’s family, shared, “This case demonstrates how dangerous these narcotics are when used on a long-term basis.” Read the full article here.
Law.com – January 2025
Morgan & Morgan and Clifford Law Offices filed a class action against Allstate Insurance on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, for its alleged unlawful collection and sale of data from more than 45 million consumers through third-party apps like Life360 and Sirius XM to raise premiums. The attorneys handling the case foresee complications considering the necessity to educate judges on the repercussions of privacy rights violations and the damages associated with a case of this nature. Read the full article here.
PC MAG UK – January 2025
Allstate’s collection of user data has sparked a class-action lawsuit against the insurance company filed in the state of Illinois. Attorneys at Morgan & Morgan and Clifford Law Offices allege that Allstate improperly collected driving-related data through third-party apps without consent from users, which violates consumer’s privacy. The firms said in a joint statement they “are fighting on behalf of our clients to put a stop to this purportedly improper data collection and hold Allstate accountable for its alleged surveillance and invasion of privacy.” Read the full article here.
Carscoops – January 2025
A class-action lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of Illinois against Allstate, alleging that the company, along with Arity, paid third-party apps to unlawfully collect data that was used to raise premiums, deny coverage, or drop policyholders. “Allstate has allegedly built the ‘world’s largest driver database’ by collecting and selling data about tens of millions of people without their consent. Our class action lawsuit alleges that Allstate undertook this data collection effort to increase its profits at the expense of unaware consumers and their privacy,” said attorneys from Morgan & Morgan and Clifford Law Offices in a joint statement. Read the full article here.
Consumer Affairs – January 2025
A class-action lawsuit in Illinois filed by Morgan & Morgan and Clifford Law Offices alleges that Allstate unlawfully collected data without consumers’ consent, invading the privacy of more than 45 million Americans. “Allstate has allegedly built the ‘world’s largest driver database’ by collecting and selling data about tens of millions of people without their consent. Our class action lawsuit alleges that Allstate undertook this data collection effort to increase its profits at the expense of unaware consumers and their privacy,” the firms said in a joint statement. Read the full article here.
Yahoo! Tech – January 2025
A class-action lawsuit in Illinois filed by Morgan & Morgan and Clifford Law Offices alleges that Allstate unlawfully collected data without consumers’ consent, invading the privacy of more than 45 million Americans. “Allstate has allegedly built the ‘world’s largest driver database’ by collecting and selling data about tens of millions of people without their consent. Our class action lawsuit alleges that Allstate undertook this data collection effort to increase its profits at the expense of unaware consumers and their privacy,” the firms said in a joint statement. Read the full article here.
Law360 – January 2025
A lawsuit has been filed against Allstate alleging the company illegally obtained the personal driving data of millions of policyholders via software embedded in third-party apps and secretly used that data to hike premiums, deny claims, or drop policyholders from coverage. In a joint statement, attorneys John Morgan, John Yanchunis, and Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, said Allstate “undertook this data collection effort to increase its profits at the expense of unaware consumers and their privacy.” Read the full article here.
Law.com – January 2025
Lawyers from South Korea have reached out to aviation attorney Robert Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices, on behalf of the families and passengers of the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash that killed 179. Clifford commented that focusing on Boeing may be premature as pilot error or maintenance may be to blame for this incident. “One example is it’s not explained why the pilot touched down so far down the landing strip. It cuts off the available space of landing. Why wasn’t the landing gear deployed? Because, even if they lost all power, which is an open question, it can be done mechanically, and you pull a pin, and gravity forces the landing gear down. So there are a lot of questions,” he stated. Read the full article here.
Law360 – January 2025
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor gave the U.S. Department of Justice and Boeing until mid-February to renegotiate a plea agreement in the criminal conspiracy case related to the crashes of two 737 MAX8 jets in 2018 and 2019. The parties have a six-week extension until February 16th, 2024, to file a new status report on their plan to move forward with a new agreement and avoid a criminal trial. Read the full article here.
Law360 – January 2025
In a joint status report filed January 3, 2025, Boeing and the U.S. Department of Justice announced they have yet to reach an agreement on how to revise the aircraft manufacturer’s plea deal in the 737 Max criminal conspiracy case after U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor rejected the initial agreement on December 5, 2024. The report did state both parties “continue to work in good faith toward that end.” Victims’ families remain anxious for closure. Read the full article here.
Breitbart News – January 2025
South Korean law enforcement authorities raided the Muan International Airport and the Jeju Air Seoul offices on Thursday, January 2, 2025, in connection with the crash of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 on December 29, 2024, that killed 179. Authorities sought information regarding the final moments of the flight or any details that could help explain why the plane appeared to fail to properly launch its landing gear and crash into a concrete wall at the end of the runway. “This plane appears to have experienced a mechanical problem,” said aviation attorney Robert A. Clifford. “Boeing keeps pointing to the bird strike issue,” Clifford noted, stating that it was “standard practice for their public relations team to shift the focus away from Boeing.” Read the full article here.
The National – January 2025
“A bird strike is unlikely to have interfered with the deployment of the landing gear,” said aviation attorney Bob Clifford regarding the crash of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 in South Korea that killed 179. “This plane appears to have experienced a mechanical problem,” he continued, stressing the importance of evaluating the plane’s digital flight data and cockpit recorders in order to determine the cause of the crash. Mr. Clifford, who serves as Lead Counsel in the civil litigation pending in federal district court in Chicago in the 2019 crash of a Boeing 737 MAX8 crash in Ethiopia, noted that a loss of power to one or both engines caused by bird strikes would not normally cut the hydraulics. Read the full article here.
