Confidential
Settlement – $3,000,000Facts
On Dec. 14, 1994, a 36-year-old pilot and his 34-year-old co-pilot were killed when the light corporate jet they were flying crashed into an apartment complex near the Fresno airport. The aircraft had been modified by the pilot's employer by the installation of heavy-gauge wiring in the aft tailbone (the "hell-hole") area of the aircraft. The purpose of the modification was to allow the aircraft to be used in a military application as a target or decoy for Air Force or Air National Guard fighter aircraft. On the day of the accident, the aircraft had completed one training flight, and was returning from a second training flight when the flight crew reported a fire warning light from the left engine. The flight crew then reported a fire warning light from the right engine. The flight crew overshot the runaway and crashed on a nearby street. The decedent pilot earned approximately $40,000 per year at the time of his death. The plaintiff, the decedent pilot's wife and three minor children brought this wrongful death action against the pilot's employer and the manufacturer of the plane based on product liability and negligence theories of recovery.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiffs made an initial settlement demad for $3.25 million.
Damages
The plaintiffs claimed damages of $__________.
Injuries
Death of a husband/father.
Other Information
The settlement was reached approximately ____ years and ____ months after the case was filed. A settlemente conference/arbitration/mediation was held on ___/___/1996 before _______________ (name) of ________________ (affiliation or court) resulting in ________________ .
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