Air cargo carrier enforces contractual liability limitation against shipper’s claim

October 28, 2016

Golden Hawk Metallurgical, Inc. v. Federal Express Corporation (E.D. Mich. Oct. 4, 2016).  The plaintiff, a metal refinery, shipped two packages to its customers via FedEx.  According to the plaintiff, the packages contained gold and diamonds valued over $33,000, but the plaintiff did not declare any value for either shipment.  The plaintiff alleged that FedEx … More Air cargo carrier enforces contractual liability limitation against shipper’s claim

Ninth Circuit confirms inviolability of Montreal Convention’s two-year lawsuit filing limit

October 17, 2016

Von Schoenebeck v. Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (9th Cir. Aug. 10, 2016).  During a 2008 KLM flight from Amsterdam to San Francisco, Ms. Schoenebeck sustained neck and back injuries when a seat backrest collapsed.  Less than two years after the flight arrived in San Francisco, Ms. Schoenebeck filed an action against KLM in South Africa.  … More Ninth Circuit confirms inviolability of Montreal Convention’s two-year lawsuit filing limit

Airline that took all reasonable measures in response to bird strike not liable for international travel delay

September 15, 2016

Bernfeld v. US Airways, Inc. (N.D. Ill. Apr. 20, 2016).  The plaintiffs, three family members, were traveling from Israel to Chicago, with a connection in Philadelphia.  The US Airways aircraft that was to operate the connecting flight sustained a bird strike en route to Philadelphia and was removed from service so the airline could conduct … More Airline that took all reasonable measures in response to bird strike not liable for international travel delay

Airline not liable for refusing to board customer who admitted she appeared to be drunk

September 12, 2016

Pipino v. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (S.D. Fla. July 18, 2016).  When the plaintiff lined up at the gate to board the flight from LaGuardia Airport to Tampa, she was not at her best; she had a chipped a tooth the previous night, had a painful blister on her foot and had consumed three alcoholic … More Airline not liable for refusing to board customer who admitted she appeared to be drunk

Montreal Convention cancels ticketholders’ canceled ticket claims

June 23, 2016

Papaiyawala v. Saudi Arabian Airlines (E.D.V.A. Apr. 15, 2016).  The plaintiffs, a married couple, had purchased tickets for the wife’s parents to travel from India to New York.  Several days before the outbound flight, Saudia canceled the tickets in response to a fraud alert from the plaintiffs’ credit card company and then initiated the process … More Montreal Convention cancels ticketholders’ canceled ticket claims

Airline not liable for customer’s travel-related misfortunes

April 14, 2016

Naqvi v. Saudi Arabian Airlines, Inc. (D.D.C. Feb. 12, 2016).  The plaintiff’s air travel originating at Washington Dulles International Airport included a connecting flight on Saudi Arabian Airlines from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Islamabad, Pakistan.  Upon arriving at Jeddah, the plaintiff learned that the flight to Islamabad would be departing from a distant terminal, not … More Airline not liable for customer’s travel-related misfortunes

Passenger’s claim based on seating-related injury fails under Montreal Convention

March 2, 2016

Plonka v. US Airways (E.D. Pa. Oct. 27, 2015).  During a flight from Philadelphia to Germany, the passenger/plaintiff was seated behind a seat under which was affixed a hard plastic box, known as an “IFE box,” that contained wiring for the seatback entertainment system.  The plaintiff alleged in his pro se complaint that, during the … More Passenger’s claim based on seating-related injury fails under Montreal Convention

Montreal Convention’s notice provision spoils shipper’s damaged vegetables claim

January 28, 2016

Mas & Sons Jardiniers, Ltd. v. Florida West International Airways, Inc. (Fla. 3d DCA Oct. 7, 2015).  The shipper/plaintiff alleged that it had sustained damages because Florida West failed to timely release fresh vegetables it had transported by air from Guatemala and Costa Rica to Miami.  Due to logistical problems involving payment for the cargo, … More Montreal Convention’s notice provision spoils shipper’s damaged vegetables claim

Passenger’s fear of contagious disease not compensable under Montreal Convention

November 30, 2015

Jane Doe v. Etihad Airways, P.J.S.C. (E.D. Mich. Oct. 13, 2015).  During a flight from Abu Dhabi to Chicago, the passenger/plaintiff was pricked by a discarded syringe when she reached into in a seatback pocket.  The plaintiff sought treatment from her physician, who prescribed antiviral drugs and HIV and hepatitis tests.  The tests, which were … More Passenger’s fear of contagious disease not compensable under Montreal Convention

Montreal Convention applies, and time-bars, passenger’s claims despite injury’s occurrence during domestic flight

October 11, 2015

Cattaneo v. American Airlines, Inc. (N.D. Cal. Sept. 24, 2015).  The passenger/plaintiff traveled roundtrip on American’s flights between LAX and Cozumel, Mexico, via DFW, in June 2011.  In her complaint filed in November 2014, the plaintiff alleged that, during the DFW-LAX flight, a flight attendant gave her “an unlidded cup of hot water,” which spilled … More Montreal Convention applies, and time-bars, passenger’s claims despite injury’s occurrence during domestic flight