Piper Cherokee Plane Crash. We represented the family of a passenger who died when a small private airplane struck the side of a mountain. The passenger resided in Oregon, but the fatal crash occurred in British Columbia. The cause of the crash appeared to be operator error, and the case settled for policy limits.
United Airlines Crash In Sioux City, Iowa. We represented a survivor of a United Airlines crash as part of the Sioux City, Iowa, mass tort aviation litigation. Defense counsel from Chicago came to our offices to meet with us and our client. Subsequently, we settled the case.
Helicopter Struck Unmarked PP&L Transmission Lines. We represented two Pacific Northwest families for the wrongful deaths of passengers in a police helicopter that struck unmarked power lines owned by PacifiCorp. The claims against the power company were for failing to provide visible warning markers on power lines above Steamboat Canyon. The cases involved issues of aviation negligence, visibility analysis, and common law and regulatory aspects of aerial markings.
Fatal Southern Pacific Railroad Crossing Collision. We prosecuted three wrongful death claims resulting from a railroad crossing collision. The case involved issues of railroad practices, federal preemption, reconstruction, and human factors.
Jones Act -- Fisherman's Arm Crushed. We represented a man who was a jack of all trades -- fishing, logging, millwork, bartending, and construction. He was working as a deckhand on a fishing trawler, assisting the skipper to moor the vessel, when his arm was crushed between the vessel and the dock pilings. We settled the claim against the boat owner under the Jones Act, after alleging that the skipper was negligent in the manner he docked the vessel.
Passenger injured on Whale Watching Tour. While on a whale watching tour out of Newport, a passenger was thrown to the deck of the boat by a large wave, and her ankle was fractured. The injury occurred as the boat was crossing the bar at Yaquina Bay. The woman had never been on an ocean guided boat and had no idea of the risk of waves. The primary issue in the case was whether the captain of the boat had taken appropriate steps to safeguard the passengers given the ocean conditions at the time. The case settled while litigation was pending.
Collision Between Two Pleasure Boats. We represented members of a family who were injured when their boat was struck broadside by a boat pulling a person on a kneeboard. The defendant motorboat operator, who was watching the person on the kneeboard when the collision occurred, failed to understand hand gestures made by the kneeboarder warning of the impending collision.
