A US law firm has committed an uncommon act of goodwill following the Lion Air 737 MAX crash. A Chicago-based law firm, Edelson PC, has paid over two million dollars to five families affected by the tragic events of October 29th, 2018. The firm gave this money as compensation that was due to the families by another firm, Girardi & Keese. Edelson PC stated that it would work to acquire the funds independently from those it considers responsible for the lack of payment.

Withheld funds

Edelson has paid over two million dollars to five families directly affected by the tragic crash of Lion Air flight 610. The firm previously had no legal connections to any of the families and has done this as an act of goodwill. All five families have been owed compensation from their representing firm Girardi and Keese. Having not received proper payment, Edelson PC has taken it upon themselves to acquire this money.

Lion Air 737
A US law firm has compensated five families affected by Lion Air flight 610. Photo: Andrew Sieber via Flickr

In 2020, Edelson PC filed a lawsuit against Girardi and Keese. Edelson PC claimed that Tom Girardi and his wife Erika Jayne Girardi had used the client's money to fund a lavish lifestyle. A lawyer at Edelson PC, Alex Tievsky, stated that the actions of Girardi and Keese were outrageous. Tievsky went on to state,

“For our firm, the idea that the Lion Air families would be left waiting and wondering if Tom Girardi would be able to pay their restitution was simply unacceptable.

“They have already been through more than any family should have to bear. We have reimbursed them for the full amount that they lost, and we are going to pursue the people we believe to be responsible on our own.”

Girardi and Keese have advised Edelson PC to sue Boeing, claiming that the manufacturer owes the families compensation, not the firm that represented the families in a case that has since been resolved. Tom Girardi filed for bankruptcy in January 2021 before being diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Girardi was officially debarred in June 2022. Erika Jayne Girardi claims not to know of any misappropriated funds.

International affairs

Following the disastrous Lion Air flight 610, families affected by the tragedy were swarmed with American lawyers looking to represent them free of charge unless they won. These lawyers are often referred to as 'vultures.' They commonly come in swarms following any significant disaster where many heartbroken families are unwilling to take the time to thoroughly read the fine print of what they are signing up for. Girardi and Keese, a personal injury firm, was one of the many American firms to reach out to the families of the victims of this flight.

Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX
The families never received the compensation they were entitled to. Photo: Boeing

These firms will often represent cases all over the world. While these firms could be seen to be taking advantage of individuals and families, foreign governments tend to keep quiet, as choosing legal representation is primarily a personal decision. Thankfully for the families represented by the now defunct Girardi and Keese firm, Edelson PC has stepped in to help. The fight for proper compensation from the firm is far from over; however, thanks to the goodwill of Edelson PC, many of those affected by the tragedy have now received some of what is legally due to them.

What do you think of these legal actions? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Aljazeera