Wu v. Singapore Airlines

Aviation - Transportation - Airlines - Wrongful Death

Airline Crash in Taiwan Claimed Lives of Plaintiff’s Parents

VERDICT (P)	$15,000.00
CASE	Sidney Wu and Christina Wu, individually and as representatives of the Estates of Ching Ying Wu and Richard Tzuen Ren Wu v. Singapore Airlines, Inc., No. CV-01-1752 (WKD)
COURT	United States District Court, Central District, Los Angeles, CA
JUDGE	5/7/04
DATE	7/7/2005
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY(S)	Brian J. Panish (lead), Panish, Shea & Boyle, Los Angeles, CA (Estate of Richard Sherman) Clay Steward, Panish, Shea & Boyle, Los Angeles, CA (Estate of Richard Sherman)
DEFENSE ATTORNEY(S)	Steven J. Freeburg, Freeburg, Judy & Nettles, Pasadena, CA (Kevin Thomas Magner) Rosemarie S. Lewis, Borton, Petrini & Conron, Los Angeles, CA (Estate of Tracy Michael Currege (dismissed from suit prior to trial based on interpleader) Rissa Ann Stuart, Kahn, Soares Conway, Hanford, CA (William Wade Taylor)
FACTS & ALLEGATIONS - On October 31, 2000, plaintiff’s decedents Richard Wu, 58 an executive vice-president, and his wife, Ching Ying Wu, 56, an executive president, were passengers on Singapore Airlines flight number 006 that was leaving Chiang Kai-Shek Airport in Taiwan for Los Angeles. As the Boeing 747-400 attempted to take off on a closed runway during Typhoon Xangsane, the plane crashed into some construction equipment and the fuselage broke into three sections. Of the 179 people on board the plane (passengers and crew), 82 were killed, including the Wus. The Wus’ two adult children, Sidney 32, and Christina, 27, sued Singapore Airlines Inc., alleging negligence and wrongful death. Singapore Airlines stipulated not to contest liability.
Injuries/Damages	Death - The Wus claimed noneconomic damages for the wrongful death of their parents. Singapore Airlines suggested that the jury should award each plaintiff $1 million.
Result	The jury found for the Wus and awarded them $15 million in noneconomic damages. Each plaintiff was awarded $3.75 million for the loss of their father and another $3.75 million for the loss of their mother.
Christina Wu	$7,500,000 noneconomic damages
Sidney Wu	$7,500,000 noneconomic damages
DEMAND	$6,000,000
OFFER	$4,000,000
TRIAL DETAILS	Trial length: 3 days, Jury Deliberations: 1.5 days, Jury poll: 7-0
Expert(s)	None Reported

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