Swissair damages higher than expected

Two recent U.S. legal developments could lead to higher settlements for families of Swissair Flight 111 victims. This as a result of new legislation and a decision by the U.S. Appeal Court removing limits on the damages families can seek, says a lawyer representing families of 82 of 229 people killed in the tragic air crash off Peggy’s Cove, NS.

A revision to the “Death on the High Seas Act” and a successful court challenge of the act’s applicability to victims of another plane crash could add millions of dollars to a potential settlement between the families and Swissair, says Manhatten lawyer Lee Kreindler. The act previously limited the amount of damages a family could seek to US$200,000.