Judge Dismisses Charges Against Boeing
A federal judge recently sided with the Department of Justice (DOJ), throwing out felony charges against Boeing concerning two tragic airliner crashes that claimed the lives of 346 individuals in Indonesia and Ethiopia.
Judge Reed O’Connor made this ruling in the Northern District of Texas, approving the Justice Department’s motion for dismissal.
Boeing had previously agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government. However, a deal struck with the Trump administration back in May resulted in the charges related to the Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashes—which occurred in October 2018 and March 2019—being dropped.
O’Connor, appointed by former President George W. Bush, stated that the government had acted in good faith and fulfilled its obligations under the Crime Victims Rights Act, despite pushback from some families of the victims.
A spokesperson for the DOJ mentioned that the non-prosecution agreement entails Boeing paying over $1.1 billion in fines, more than $455 million aimed at bolstering the company’s compliance, safety, and quality programs, along with over $445 million allocated for the families affected by the crashes.
“In addition to financial commitments, Boeing needs to enhance its anti-fraud compliance and ethics programs while hiring an independent compliance consultant,” the spokesperson indicated.
Judge O’Connor recognized that Boeing’s choice in hiring these consultants could overlook the need for unbiased oversight. He seemed to understand that families might feel let down by the agreement, which he suggested might not guarantee the accountability necessary for public safety.
Tracy Blameyer from Clifford Law Firm, part of the plaintiffs’ team, announced plans for an immediate appeal following O’Connor’s ruling. She argued that the judge identified a major injustice in the government’s choice to dismiss the case, asserting it was not in the public’s best interest. Blameyer expressed disappointment with the outcome but maintained hope that an appellate court would act quickly to safeguard the family and public interests.
On a related note, three lawsuits involving victims from a 2019 crash were recently settled after jury selection, including the case of a 28-year-old Kenyan mother who left behind a daughter. The other cases involved a 38-year-old father of seven from Yemen and another father of three from the UK.
The flight, ET-302, tragically crashed shortly after departing from Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in March 2019, resulting in the loss of all 157 lives on board.
Attorneys have noted that nearly a dozen cases tied to these accidents remain unresolved.
A DOJ representative reinforced that victims remain at the forefront of their mission and highlighted that this agreement offers finality to victims, urging Boeing to act immediately. They emphasized extensive consultations with families, noting varying opinions among them regarding the resolution. Ultimately, they believe this decision reflects a just resolution given the circumstances.
Boeing responded by reiterating their commitment to meeting the requirements set out in their agreement with the DOJ, marking it as part of their continuous efforts to enhance safety and compliance measures.
