Relatives of Germanwings crash victims to take Lufthansa to court in US
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Version 0 of 1. The families of the passengers killed in the Germanwings flight 4U9525 crash are to take legal action against Lufthansa in the US after rejecting the airline’s compensation offer as inadequate, a German newspaper has said, citing the families’ lawyer. Germanwings, a low-cost subsidiary of Lufthansa, offered €25,000 (£17,700) per person for the pain and suffering caused when the plane crashed into the French Alps on 24 March, killing all 150 on board. The offer is on top of €50,000 per passenger already paid as immediate financial assistance to relatives. US law provides for large payouts for emotional damages, unlike German law. Elmar Giemulla, a lawyer representing some of the victims’ families and relatives, said last month that a six-figure payment would be adequate compensation. Related: Germanwings co-pilot 'researched deadly drugs on internet' before crash The newspaper Bild am Sonntag quoted him as saying: “We are preparing a lawsuit in the US and see good chances for a place of jurisdiction there.” Damage claims have not been set yet but plaintiffs will follow US law, Giemulla said. Giemulla said the planned legal action will look to find out why the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, who previously had depression, was allowed to fly. He did not return calls seeking comment. Evidence shows Lubitz locked the captain out of the cockpit on the flight from Barcelona to Düsseldorf and deliberately steered the plane into a remote mountainside. The newspaper said Giemulla will work with the New York-based law firm Kreindler & Kreindler. |