Latest news with #PaulCassell
New Straits Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Boeing trial over 737 MAX crashes put on hold for deal review
NEW YORK: A US federal judge on Monday cancelled the planned trial of US aviation giant Boeing over crashes of its 737 MAX aircraft that left nearly 350 people dead. The trial had been scheduled to begin June 23, but the Justice Department and Boeing reached a preliminary agreement last month to settle the long-running criminal probe into the crashes. US District Judge Reed O'Connor granted the request of both parties to vacate the trial date and cancelled the criminal trial which had been scheduled to be held in Fort Worth, Texas. But the judge still must give his final approval to the settlement and he could reschedule a trial if he fails to give the deal his green light. Under the agreement, which has drawn condemnation from some families of crash victims, Boeing will pay US$1.1 billion and the Justice Department will dismiss a criminal charge over the company's conduct in the certification of the MAX. The agreement resolves the case without requiring Boeing to plead guilty to fraud in the certification of the MAX, which was involved in two crashes in 2018 and 2019 that claimed 346 lives. The Justice Department described it as "a fair and just resolution that serves the public interest." "The Agreement guarantees further accountability and substantial benefits from Boeing immediately, while avoiding the uncertainty and litigation risk presented by proceeding to trial," it said. Family members of some MAX victims slammed the proposed settlement, however, as a giveaway to Boeing. "This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in US history," Paul Cassell, an attorney representing relatives of victims, said when the settlement was announced. The Justice Department cited other family members who expressed a desire for closure, quoting one who said "the grief resurfaces every time this case is discussed in court or other forums." The preliminary agreement was the latest development in a marathon case that came in the wake of crashes that tarnished Boeing's reputation and contributed to leadership shakeups at the aviation giant. The case dates to a January 2021 Justice Department agreement with Boeing that settled charges that the company knowingly defrauded the Federal Aviation Administration during the MAX certification. The 2021 accord included a three-year probation period. But in May 2024, the Justice Department determined that Boeing had violated the 2021 accord following a number of subsequent safety lapses. Boeing agreed in July 2024 to plead guilty to "conspiracy to defraud the United States." But in December, Judge O'Connor rejected a settlement codifying the guilty plea, setting the stage for the incoming Trump administration to decide the next steps. —AFP
Roya News
02-06-2025
- Business
- Roya News
US judge cancels planned Boeing trial over 737 crashes
A US federal judge on Monday cancelled the planned trial of US aviation giant Boeing over crashes of its 737 MAX aircraft that left nearly 350 people dead. The trial had been scheduled to begin June 23, but the Justice Department and Boeing reached a preliminary agreement last month to settle the long-running criminal probe into the accidents. US District Judge Reed O'Connor granted the request of both parties to vacate the trial date and cancelled the criminal trial which had been scheduled to be held in Fort Worth, Texas. But the judge still must give his final approval to the settlement and he could reschedule a trial if he fails to give the deal his green light. Under the agreement, which has drawn condemnation from some families of crash victims, Boeing will pay USD 1.1 billion and the Justice Department will dismiss a criminal charge over the company's conduct in the certification of the MAX. The agreement resolves the case without requiring Boeing to plead guilty to fraud in the certification of the MAX, which was involved in two crashes in 2018 and 2019 that claimed 346 lives – a Lion Air plane and an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft. The Justice Department described it as "a fair and just resolution that serves the public interest." "The Agreement guarantees further accountability and substantial benefits from Boeing immediately, while avoiding the uncertainty and litigation risk presented by proceeding to trial," it said. Family members of some MAX victims slammed the proposed settlement, however, as a giveaway to Boeing. "This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in US history," Paul Cassell, an attorney representing relatives of victims, said when the settlement was announced. The Justice Department cited other family members who expressed a desire for closure, quoting one who said "the grief resurfaces every time this case is discussed in court or other forums." The preliminary agreement was the latest development in a marathon case that came in the wake of crashes that tarnished Boeing's reputation and contributed to leadership shakeups at the aviation giant. 'Conspiracy to defraud' The case dates to a January 2021 Justice Department agreement with Boeing that settled charges that the company knowingly defrauded the Federal Aviation Administration during the MAX certification. The 2021 accord included a three-year probation period. But in May 2024, the Justice Department determined that Boeing had violated the 2021 accord following a number of subsequent safety lapses. Boeing agreed in July 2024 to plead guilty to "conspiracy to defraud the United States." But in December, Judge O'Connor rejected a settlement codifying the guilty plea, setting the stage for the incoming Trump administration to decide the next steps. The deal announced in May requires Boeing to pay a fine of USd 487.2 million with credit for a USD 243 million penalty the company paid previously under the January 2021 agreement.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US judge cancels planned Boeing trial over 737 crashes
A US federal judge on Monday cancelled the planned trial of US aviation giant Boeing over crashes of its 737 MAX aircraft that left nearly 350 people dead. The trial had been scheduled to begin June 23, but the Justice Department and Boeing reached a preliminary agreement last month to settle the long-running criminal probe into the crashes. US District Judge Reed O'Connor granted the request of both parties to vacate the trial date and cancelled the criminal trial which had been scheduled to be held in Fort Worth, Texas. But the judge still must give his final approval to the settlement and he could reschedule a trial if he fails to give the deal his green light. Under the agreement, which has drawn condemnation from some families of crash victims, Boeing will pay $1.1 billion and the Justice Department will dismiss a criminal charge over the company's conduct in the certification of the MAX. The agreement resolves the case without requiring Boeing to plead guilty to fraud in the certification of the MAX, which was involved in two crashes in 2018 and 2019 that claimed 346 lives. The Justice Department described it as "a fair and just resolution that serves the public interest." "The Agreement guarantees further accountability and substantial benefits from Boeing immediately, while avoiding the uncertainty and litigation risk presented by proceeding to trial," it said. Family members of some MAX victims slammed the proposed settlement, however, as a giveaway to Boeing. "This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in US history," Paul Cassell, an attorney representing relatives of victims, said when the settlement was announced. The Justice Department cited other family members who expressed a desire for closure, quoting one who said "the grief resurfaces every time this case is discussed in court or other forums." The preliminary agreement was the latest development in a marathon case that came in the wake of crashes that tarnished Boeing's reputation and contributed to leadership shakeups at the aviation giant. The case dates to a January 2021 Justice Department agreement with Boeing that settled charges that the company knowingly defrauded the Federal Aviation Administration during the MAX certification. The 2021 accord included a three-year probation period. But in May 2024, the Justice Department determined that Boeing had violated the 2021 accord following a number of subsequent safety lapses. Boeing agreed in July 2024 to plead guilty to "conspiracy to defraud the United States." But in December, Judge O'Connor rejected a settlement codifying the guilty plea, setting the stage for the incoming Trump administration to decide the next steps. elm-cl/md
France 24
02-06-2025
- Business
- France 24
US judge cancels planned Boeing trial over 737 crashes
The trial had been scheduled to begin June 23, but the Justice Department and Boeing reached a preliminary agreement last month to settle the long-running criminal probe into the crashes. US District Judge Reed O'Connor granted the request of both parties to vacate the trial date and cancelled the criminal trial which had been scheduled to be held in Fort Worth, Texas. But the judge still must give his final approval to the settlement and he could reschedule a trial if he fails to give the deal his green light. Under the agreement, which has drawn condemnation from some families of crash victims, Boeing will pay $1.1 billion and the Justice Department will dismiss a criminal charge over the company's conduct in the certification of the MAX. The agreement resolves the case without requiring Boeing to plead guilty to fraud in the certification of the MAX, which was involved in two crashes in 2018 and 2019 that claimed 346 lives. The Justice Department described it as "a fair and just resolution that serves the public interest." "The Agreement guarantees further accountability and substantial benefits from Boeing immediately, while avoiding the uncertainty and litigation risk presented by proceeding to trial," it said. Family members of some MAX victims slammed the proposed settlement, however, as a giveaway to Boeing. "This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in US history," Paul Cassell, an attorney representing relatives of victims, said when the settlement was announced. The Justice Department cited other family members who expressed a desire for closure, quoting one who said "the grief resurfaces every time this case is discussed in court or other forums." The preliminary agreement was the latest development in a marathon case that came in the wake of crashes that tarnished Boeing's reputation and contributed to leadership shakeups at the aviation giant. The case dates to a January 2021 Justice Department agreement with Boeing that settled charges that the company knowingly defrauded the Federal Aviation Administration during the MAX certification. The 2021 accord included a three-year probation period. But in May 2024, the Justice Department determined that Boeing had violated the 2021 accord following a number of subsequent safety lapses. Boeing agreed in July 2024 to plead guilty to "conspiracy to defraud the United States." But in December, Judge O'Connor rejected a settlement codifying the guilty plea, setting the stage for the incoming Trump administration to decide the next steps.
New York Post
30-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Families of victims in crashes plan objection to Boeing's deal with DOJ
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has reportedly informed victims' families of two fatal Boeing 737 MAX8 aircraft crashes that it is dismissing criminal fraud charges against the airplane manufacturer, though families plan to object to the filing. Clifford Law Offices said in a news release that the DOJ sent a letter to families on Thursday, informing them the government agency had filed a motion to dismiss the criminal fraud matter against Boeing. Instead, the DOJ said it filed a non-prosecution agreement (NPA) against Boeing regarding two 737 MAX 8 planes that crashed six years ago and killed 346 people. The DOJ sent the letter as part of the federal Crime Victims' Rights Act, which requires it to inform crime victims of their actions. Pro bono lawyer Paul Cassell, who also works as a professor at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, represents several families of victims, and they have advised U.S. District Court Judge Reed O'Connor about their intentions to object to the DOJ's motion. 4 The Department of Justice has reportedly informed victims' families of two fatal Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft crashes that it is dismissing criminal fraud charges against the airplane manufacturer. AP The families were informed nearly a week after the DOJ said it had struck a tentative deal with Boeing that allows the company to avoid criminal prosecution for allegedly misleading regulators about the company's 737 Max plane before two crashes that killed 346 people. Under the deal, Boeing will pay out $1.1 billion, including $445 million to a fund for the crash victims' families, the DOJ said in court documents last week. In exchange, the DOJ will dismiss a fraud charge against the aircraft manufacturer. 4 The DOJ said it filed a non-prosecution agreement (NPA) against Boeing regarding two 737 MAX 8 planes that crashed six years ago and killed 346 people. REUTERS The DOJ did not immediately respond to FOX Business's request for comment on the matter. The news release noted that the families had been asking for a meeting with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi since Feb. 6, with hopes of meeting before a final decision was made. The law firm said the families had never heard back, as of Thursday. 4 Forensics investigators and recovery teams collect personal effects and other materials from the crash site of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 on March 12, 2019 in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. Getty Images 'Boeing must continue to improve the effectiveness of its anti-fraud compliance and ethics program and retain an independent compliance consultant,' the department said last week. 'We are confident that this resolution is the most just outcome with practical benefits.' Last year, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge after two fatal 737 Max crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019. The company previously agreed to pay a fine of up to $487.2 million and face three years of independent oversight. The deal announced last Friday did not go over well with relatives of those killed in the crashes. 4 U.S. investigators examine recovered parts of the Lion Air jet that crashed into the sea on Monday, at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. AP 'This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history. My families will object and hope to convince the court to reject it,' Cassell said. Boeing has faced increased scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) since January 2024, when a new Max 9 missing four key bolts had a midair emergency, losing a door plug, Reuters reported. The FAA has capped production at 38 planes per month. Last year, the DOJ found Boeing had violated a 2021 agreement that shielded the plane-maker from prosecution.
