Plan to sue airline or firm

Press, 1 March 1989, Page 1

Plan to sue airline or firm

PA Wellington The Wellington family of an Hawaii air tragedy victim, Lee Campbell, plans to sue United Airlines or Boeing, it was disclosed yesterday. Lee Campbell’s father, Kevin Campbell, said yesterday the family had told the airline it would not be contacting the airline’s insurance company about a settlement but would look at taking legal action. “Lee was someone worth fighting for. If we can get something, we can do something with the money, like have some memorial to Lee, some scholarship,” Mr Campbell said. Whether legal action would be

taken against the airline or the manufacturer, Boeing, would depend on the report into the accident.

“If someone was negligent, that’s just not on. Until the report we just have to keep an open mind,” Mr Campbell said.

“It wasn’t a terrorist attack. Either it was maintenance or there was something wrong with the aircraft.”

Mr Campbell said there was a standard maximum payment for an accident victim of about $U575,000 ($130,000). “We could sit back and just accept that and run with it, but I think Lee was such a super guy he would want us to go for it.

Somebody has to pay,” he said. “I don’t want people to think we are mercenary, but we can’t let it go.” No legal action could be taken until the investigation in Hawaii was finished.

Mr Campbell said he had not been in touch with a lawyer, but he expected to receive calls from American lawyers.

“There are more lawyers in America than the rest of the world put together. The American system is that they charge a percentage and go for the maximum.

“I have spent a lot of time in America and the first thing you do there is sue; the American

AUCKLAND

TIMARU

system is based on suing.” A meeting with a United representative had been good, and no pressure had been put on the family to settle. During the meeting they went to his son’s room, which he had decorated when he was 14 with pictures of aircraft.

“The United woman got goosebumps and had to sit down beside us,” Mr Campbell said. The family would like to use any money gained to set up a scholarship at their son’s old school, Scots College.

Two of his uncles are airline pilots, one with Air New Zealand, the other with Royal Brunei.

WELLINGTON

DUNEDIN I