Bruce Willis-Demi Moore's Private Jet Pilot Wins $53Mil. in Calif. Lawsuit

Los Angeles Times ^ | 12/9/05 | Los Angeles Times

[tresfix]

December 9, 2005 latimes.com : IN BRIEF LOS ANGELES COUNTY / LOS ANGELES Pilot Is Awarded $54 Million in Lawsuit From Times Staff and Wire Reports.

A jury has ordered a charter airline that flies planes owned by celebrities, including Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, and three of its former employees to pay almost $54 million to a pilot who said he was defamed and fired because of his age. The jury is still considering an additional punitive damage award for Doyle Baker, 64, of Apple Valley. Although Baker exclusively flew a jet owned by Willis and Moore, he actually was employed over the years by various private companies that managed the aircraft, including PrivatAir Inc. Baker blames PrivatAir and three former co-workers for wrongfully attacking his health and competency in the cockpit in letters to the FAA, Willis and Moore.

[svcw]

I thought FAA regs were that you could not fly commercial flights after the age of 60. Isn't that what he was doing flying commercial flights?

[FEARED MUTATION]

Maybe a few more liberal muggings like this and they would support caps on lawsuits.

[tresfix]

Isn't that the truth!!

[tresfix]

American commercial pilots have to retire on their 60th birthday. Many fly private jets after their retirement from the airlines, as there are no age restrictions. Some are retired military pilots who the airlines would not hire. Many private pilots are those who could not get a job in commercial aviation, the ultimate career for a civilian pilot.

[tresfix]

American commercial pilots have to retire on their 60th birthday. Many fly private jets after their retirement from the airlines, as there are no age restrictions. Some are retired military pilots who the airlines would not hire. Many private pilots are those who could not get a job in commercial aviation, the ultimate career for a civilian pilot.

[A CA Guy]

So he sues the corporation who is probably in debt and he can have the indebted planes and try to make a go of it himself.
In other words, that is why there is corporations in business and why corps often leave themselves officially broke at times.
This guy will be lucky to see any money.

[saganite]

You can't fly part 121 carriers which are the commercial carriers including freight carriers like UPS but you can fly part 135 operations past 60 and that includes businees aircraft like this one.

[Dashing Dasher]

HOLY COW!
I KNOW HIM!!!!!


JUST DArN!

[Dashing Dasher]

FYI

[Zuriel]

Age restrictions in any job arena are just dumb. I'm 51, and can run circles around all of my co-workers, some of which are still in their 30's. Even the ones that don't smoke have bad diet/exercise habits.

Sure, there's genetics involved (BP 98/68 and HB 64 at last checkup; and I had to jog three blocks to get there on time). But I, thanks to my wife, eat right, and force myself to exercise, one way or the other.

Workplace health guidelines need emphasis on health history, first, then age!

[patton]

who knew.

[Dashing Dasher]

I just got off the phone with a friend of ours who was at the trial.

They say he'll end up with $15-20Mill in his pocket.

Nice chunk'o'change!

[Zuriel]

a lot of old timers, like my dad, noticed the first thing to get bad was their eyes (correctable) and their ears (from flying all those hours in piston-pounders without headsets).

[patton]

yikes.

[beaver fever]

Any 64 year old pilot is going to have millions of air miles under his belt and certification for every aircraft flying.

When my brother was in the Canadian Airforce the smart pilots did transport duty because they could rack up huge flight time doing milk runs.

After ten years they went straight to commercial aviation and got hired on the spot.

The top guns were left with pensions and a few memories.

[Zuriel]

Sometimes professional blamers (lawyers) are a 'good thing',.....sometimes.

[Richard Kimball]

I see you've gotten over your inferiority complex, also.

[Zuriel]

professional blamers......inferiority complex?????

Then I proudly join the likes of Will Rogers and Samuel Clemons, for my tongue in cheek comments of lawyers. ;)

One lawyer friend of my family landed his C210 in a muddy plowed field in Iowa back in 1986, AND kept it upright!!
It changed my whole opinion of lawyer/pilots!

Never mind that he ran out of gas to force that unplanned landing. :D

[Dashing Dasher]

IT's a wild story.

I just got an email back from him. He's going back tomorrow for punitive. As soon as I hear something - I'll let you know.



This should be interesting...