Widow of Sept. 11 Passenger Sues

rueters

[newsperson999]

NEW YORK (AP) - A woman whose husband died aboard one of the jetliners that slammed into the World Trade Center sued the airline Thursday, alleging company negligence led to the Sept. 11 hijacking.

Ellen Mariani of Derry, N.H., filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the southern district of New York. Her husband, Louis Mariani, 58, was a passenger on United Airlines Flight 175, the second plane to hit the center.

Her lawyer, Don Nolan, said he didn't know of any other such federal suits.

The lawsuit, which sought unspecified damages, said Ellen Mariani and her children have sustained ``substantial non-economic damages'' including ``loss of companionship, grief, sorrow, pain and anguish.''

The couple were taking separate flights to California to attend the wedding of Ellen Mariani's daughter. Initially, Louis Mariani had planned to stay home, thinking it was too expensive for them both to go. But his wife raised money through yard sales to buy him a surprise ticket.

Nolan said in a statement that the airline had a duty to ``exercise the highest degree of care'' for safety and should have stopped the hijackers from boarding the plane. He wouldn't elaborate on what he thinks the airline should have done differently.

Nolan said Mariani has decided not to apply for money from the federal Victims Compensation Fund, which is open only to those families who agree not to sue anyone for damages. ``Mrs. Mariani doesn't want the taxpayers' money,'' he said. ``She wants her day in court with United Airlines.'' A message left for comment with a spokeswoman at United Airlines was not immediately returned.
AFGHAN WAR NEWS WIRES..CLICK

[newsperson999]

It was only a matter of tiem before we started seeing cr*p like this...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

She should be suing the INS for letting known terrorists like Mohommed Atta roam the country at will while attending flight school.

[1Old Pro]

also here: United Sued for WTC Hijacking Attack

[Alberta's Child]

Just wait until someone names the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey as a co-defendant, for building those towers in the path of those two aircraft.

[newsperson999]

sued for what letting people on flights with box cutters?

[tdadams]

I feel for this woman, but I hope this case goes to court and she gets awarded one single penny. That'll send a message.

Yes, this poor woman lost her husband, but he's no less dead than if he'd gotten in a car wreck. Then who would she sue?

Something about a defendant with deep pockets sure draws out the lawyers.

[holyscroller]

She ought to be suing United Way. They've aleady got the money that the public donated for her.

[the]

I'm waiting to see some of the widows/widowers/families of
passengers on Flight 93 sue the estates of the other
passengers, the ones who decided to fight back against
the terrorists.

That, for me, will be the final sign that pure evil is afoot.

[kellynla]

Negligence. The airlines have been negligent for over 30 years. No baggage check for bombs(did you know that there has never been a security check of baggage checked for explosives, I didn't), insecure cockpit doors and lax security for carry-on baggage just to name a few.

[Heff]

"She should be suing the INS for letting known terrorists like Mohommed Atta roam the country at will while attending flight school.

Amen!!!

[BlessedBeGod]

But everything they carried on board (boxcutters, etc.) was legal at the time.

[E=MC²]

Just remember...it's NOT the money...if true to form, she is suing to make the world SAFER for everyone else so this will never happen again...after all, this tactic has worked oh so well in the past.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I don't mean to disparage grieving widows, but ONLY A VERY FEW PEOPLE SAW THIS COMING!!!

In this day and age, negative emotions can be worth more than gold.

[goodieD]

She should be suing Brady and Handgun control inc., if not for their pushing for restrictive gun laws, perhaps armed passengers could have stopped this tragedy. This is my new quest. To sue the anti gun people out of existance, for misleading the public about crime stats and firearm safety issues.

[cincinnati_Steve]

"Her lawyer, Don Nolan, said he didn't know of any other such federal suits."

Wonder how long it took this reprehensible reptile to talk the greiving widow into this inane moola grab?

[patrioteagle911]

INS is part of the US government, so they are protected against such suits under sovereign rights.

[patrioteagle911]

ditto.

[kellynla]

If the cockpit doors had been secure like they are now none of this would have happened. Once the plane is off the ground you don't get in the cockpit and you don't get out. PERIOD.

[LurkedLongEnough]

==== Should Algore be named as a defendant as well? ===

White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security
Vice President Al Gore, Chairman

BARF ALERT!

Excerpt:

"Today's aviation security is based in part on the defenses erected in the 1970s against hijackers and on recommendations made by the Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism, which was formed in the wake of the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Improvements in aviation security have been complicated because government and industry often found themselves at odds, unable to resolve disputes over financing, effectiveness, technology, and potential impacts on operations and passengers.

Americans should not have to choose between enhanced security and efficient and affordable air travel. Both goals are achievable if the federal government, airlines, airports, aviation employees, local law enforcement agencies, and passengers work together to achieve them. Accordingly, the Commission recommends a new partnership that will marshal resources more effectively, and focus all parties on achieving the ultimate goal: enhancing the security of air travel for Americans.

The Commission considered the question of whether or not the FAA is the appropriate government agency to have the primary responsibility for regulating aviation security. The Commission believes that, because of its extensive interactions with airlines and airports, the FAA is the appropriate agency, with the following qualifications: first, that the FAA must improve the way it carries out its mission; and second, that the roles of intelligence and law enforcement agencies in supporting the FAA must be more clearly defined and coordinated. The Commission's recommendations address those conditions.

The terrorist threat is changing and growing. Therefore, it is important to improve security not just against familiar threats, such as explosives in checked baggage, but also to explore means of assessing and countering emerging threats, such as the use of biological or chemical agents, or the use of missiles. While these do not present significant threats at present, it would be short-sighted not to plan for their possible use and take prudent steps to counter them."

Big government fails again.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

She should be suing the INS for letting known terrorists like Mohommed Atta roam the country at will while attending flight school.

But that's a benevolent government agency, not a big, mean, evil, nasty, corners-cutting, profiteering, self-centered corporation!