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McGill hosts global conference on aviation liability

Published: 27 October 2009

International aviation experts will convene in Montreal to discuss passenger rights, airline liability, insurance issues, among others

When American Brandi Wallace awoke from her nap on a flight from Seoul to Los Angeles, she found that the passenger seated next to her had unbuckled her belt, unzipped her shorts, and was fondling her. Ms. Wallace sued the airline. While the first court to hear the case dismissed it, the U.S. Court of Appeals overturned that decision ruled Ms. Wallace's favour.

Does an airline have a responsibility to protect one passenger from the aggressive sexual advances of another?

This is one of the many topics that will be hotly debated on Oct. 30 and 31 at International Aviation Liability and Insurance, a major conference organized by McGill University's Institute of Air and Space Law, which will include a simulated appeal of the Brandi Wallace case before the "U.S. Supreme Moot Court,"  conducted by the very same lawyers who argued the case before the Appeals Court.

"This worldwide Conference will be addressing some of the most important issues in international aviation liability and insurance today," said McGill Law professor Dr. John Saba, one of the conference's principal organizers. "The moderators and speakers are leading practitioners and attorneys in the field including many names we read about when aviation litigation cases arise. The discussion is expected to be informative, controversial, and occasionally consensual."

The conference, taking place at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure Hotel, will feature panel discussions addressing important topics such as recent developments in aviation liability and in aviation insurance, accident investigations, passenger rights and recovery of non-economic damages, air cargo liability, liability flowing from new terrorism conventions, jurisdiction, and liability of manufacturers of aircraft, engines & component parts. Aside from the Wallace case, a second simulation will feature mediation of complex aviation accident litigation.

The conference will bring together an over 200 participants from various spheres of the aviation industry, including attorneys, insurers, air carriers, manufacturers and governmental representatives. Speakers will include Francis Schubert, Deputy CEO, Skyguide Swiss Air Navigation Services Ltd., as well as noted aviation law attorneys Jim Kreindler (Kreindler & Kreindler LLP), Aaron Podhurst (Podhurst Orseck P.A.), Rod Margo (Condon & Forsyth LLP), and Ken Quinn (Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP).

McGill Institute of Air and Space Lawhttps://www.mcgill.ca/iasl/

 

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