Aviation & Space Law

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May 30, 2018 1:53 PM CDT

Aviation security officer who dragged doctor from plane in viral video files lawsuit

An aviation security officer who dragged a doctor from a United Airlines plane in an incident caught video that went viral has filed a lawsuit that claims he received inadequate training in how to handle such a situation. The fired officer, James Long, claims the city of Chicago did not…

Apr 11, 2018 10:32 AM CDT

Southwest reaches settlement in price-fixing class action; will cooperate against other airlines

A judge has given preliminary approval of a class-action settlement with Southwest Airlines for $15 million and “significant cooperation” in proving a cartel case against codefendants American, Delta and United airlines, according to court documents. “Southwest’s cooperation will permit Plaintiffs’ Counsel to obtain information that will help guide discovery going…

Jan 5, 2018 9:26 AM CST

How Hogan Lovells got CNN a first-of-its-kind drone waiver

CNN has received a first-of-its-kind waiver to fly drones over populated areas.

Oct 27, 2017 4:55 PM CDT

Lawyer for man dragged off flight sees lesson in firing of 2 aviation officers

Two Chicago aviation security officers have been fired in connection with an April incident in which a Louisville, Kentucky, doctor was dragged off his United Airlines flight. One officer was fired for escalating the conflict, while another was fired for removing information about the incident from an employee report, according…

Oct 17, 2017 4:38 PM CDT

10 Questions: James Dunstan

James E. Dunstan, the principal of Springfield, Virginia-based Mobius Legal Group, has spent more than 30 years specializing in space law.

Oct 1, 2017 3:40 AM CDT

Federal judge overturns Massachusetts city law regulating drones

In the first federal court ruling (PDF) concerning attempts by city and state jurisdictions to regulate the use of drones, a judge denied a requirement by a city near Boston regarding local registration and significant bans on where and how low they can fly. Fortune and Ars Technica have reports.…

Sep 22, 2017 4:53 PM CDT

Navigating drone laws has become a growing and lucrative legal niche

The brave new world of drones has spawned a growing—and lucrative—legal niche. With little case law for guidance and a complex web of government regulations to wade through, “drone attorneys” have recently found themselves in high demand.

Jul 1, 2017 12:20 AM CDT

Lawyer who filed petition over missing Malaysia Airlines flight has disappeared

A Chicago lawyer who filed a court petition seeking information about the disappearance of Malaysia Air Flight 370 is herself missing. Monica Ribbeck Kelly has left “a trail of unhappy clients wondering about the U.S. justice system,” Forbes reports. Kelly had traveled to Beijing with a Shanghai lawyer where they…

Jun 30, 2017 8:00 AM CDT

9th Circuit allows airline passenger’s contract suit over delayed baggage

An airline passenger’s suit seeking a refund of a checked baggage fee because of delayed luggage delivery is not pre-empted by federal law, a federal appeals court has ruled. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday on behalf of Hayley Hickcox-Huffman, Reuters reports. How Appealing links…

May 4, 2017 7:45 AM CDT

Lawyer who represents man dragged from flight now represents mom in airline stroller incident

Chicago lawyer Thomas Demetrio now represents a second unhappy airline passenger. Demetrio announced Monday that he represents a mother shown in an online video crying after an American Airlines flight attendant allegedly yanked a stroller from her, report the Washington Post, AJC.com, the Palm Beach Post and CNBC. Demetrio appeared…

Apr 24, 2017 9:07 AM CDT

Lawyer for man dragged from plane sees lawsuit likelihood, wants to stop airline bullying

A lawyer for the man dragged from a United Airlines plane said at a press conference on Thursday that his client will need reconstructive surgery and will "probably" file a lawsuit.

Apr 13, 2017 10:50 AM CDT

United passenger dragged off plane hires high-profile personal injury lawyer

Updated: A United Airlines passenger who was dragged from a plane has retained a well-known Chicago personal injury lawyer.

Apr 12, 2017 9:32 AM CDT

Can United order passenger ouster? Check out its contract of carriage and federal compensation caps

United Airlines is taking a lot of heat after a video showed a recalcitrant passenger who was bumped from a flight on Sunday being dragged down the aisle of a plane in Chicago.

Apr 11, 2017 10:49 AM CDT

The Outer Space Treaty turns 50. Can it survive a new space race?

The treaty is a product of the Cold War and primarily addresses concerns of that era, including nuclear war. So for 50 years, the treaty has prevented belligerent nations from putting weapons of mass destruction into space. But space is becoming big business, and commercial interests are putting new pressures on the law of outer space.

Apr 1, 2017 5:00 AM CDT