On Tuesday, January 14, 2020 shortly before noon, a number of Los Angeles area schools were affected after a Delta flight from LAX had an emergency and had to return to the airport. Dozens of people – a combination of children and adults – were treated for minor injuries after the plane dumped a load of jet fuel at a relatively low altitude. The incident was reported before noon at Park Avenue Elementary School in the 8000 block of Park Avenue in Cudahy. At this school, there were a total of 31 patients who were treated for minor injuries. The fuel was dropped over the school’s playground. The school is approximately 14 miles east of the airport.
Other schools in the surrounding the area were also affected. At two elementary schools in South Gate – San Gabriel Avenue Elementary and Tweedy Elementary – an additional 6 patients were treated for minor injuries. In the Florence-Graham area, another patient was treated at Graham Elementary School. In the Florence-Firestone area, Jordan High School was affected. In Green Meadows, 93rd Street Elementary School was also affected. In these two campuses, there were an additional 16 patients treated for minor injuries. In Downey, specifically at Gallatin preschool, another 7 patients were evaluated for their minor injuries. Students and adults on the affected campuses complained of itchy skin, itchy eyes, and sore throats. The individuals affected by the incident were instructed to shower thoroughly and wash exposed/contaminated clothing separately with regular laundry detergent.
Many people in the affected communities also complained of the fuel’s odor after the incident. Officials with the Department of Public Health are urging residents in the affected communities to avoid contact with any residue of the fuel. Residents in Cudahy reported that they could rub the residue of the fuel off their cars with their fingers. According to the fire department, they are using meters to detect any unsafe levels of chemicals; so far, there haven’t been any concerning reports. No evacuations were ordered in the affected areas. LAUSD’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety was dispatched to the affected schools. The plane has been identified as a Boeing 777. The Delta Flight 89 was headed to Shanghai from LAX. A Delta representative has confirmed that the plane experienced engine issues, which required the aircraft to return to the airport. Delta released the following statement:
“Shortly after takeoff, Flight 89 from LAX to Shanghai experienced an engine issue requiring the aircraft to return quickly to LAX. The aircraft landed safely after a release of fuel, which was required as part of normal procedure to reach a safe landing weight. We are in touch with Los Angeles Word Airports and the LA County Fire Department and share concerns regarding reported minor injuries to adults and children at a school in the area.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also released a statement claiming that they were investigating the incident. According to the FAA, procedures call for “fuel to be dumped over designated unpopulated areas, typically at higher altitudes so the fuel atomizes and disperses before it reaches the ground.”
This incident has left the community wondering if they have any legal grounds to pursue a lawsuit. If you or your child was affected by the incident described above, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at Normandie Law Firm at your earliest convenience. The lawyers at our firm have many years of experience handling all sorts of claims – always representing the best interests of affected parties. If you would like to learn more about the possibility of taking legal action, do not hesitate to contact our law firm today.
Understanding the Incident
According to reports, the Boeing 777 bound for Shanghai began experiencing engine problems shortly after taking off from LAX. Because of the mechanical issues, the plane was forced to return to the airport. The fuel had to be released to reduce weight for a safe landing.
Many people in the affected communities have questions. One of the most frequently repeated question has been the following. Why was the plane allowed to take off in the first place? Considering that planes are put through thorough inspections prior to every flight, this is a valid question. Why wasn’t the mechanical issue identified before takeoff? Who failed to identify and address the issue before? Who is liable for the harm that so many members of the community suffered because of the fuel dump?
Considering that airlines must ensure that their planes are safe to be in the air prior to any takeoff, it is important to acknowledge the possibility that someone failed to do their job – the recklessness and negligence of just one person or a group of people put many innocent parties in danger.
You Might Have Grounds to Pursue a Claim
The incident is still under investigation, but it is important for all affected victims and their families to be aware that they might have grounds to sue for the harm suffered because of the incident. Do you really have the right to sue? In general, the right to sue is based on negligence; in other words, if the negligent actions of a party or entity contributed to harm, the party or entity could be held accountable for all the harm suffered. Although the incident is still under investigation, it is important to note that it is possible that the negligence of the pilot, the airline, and the plane manufacturer, for example, contributed to the incident.
Could you sue? If the incident can be associated with negligence, you will likely have grounds to sue. Because so many people were affected by the incident, it is also likely that victims and their families will come together and file a class action lawsuit against Delta or any other party or entity found liable for the harm suffered. Depending on whether you pursue a claim and whether the claim is successful, you – and other claimants – might be eligible to recover monetary compensation for the harm suffered. Affected parties could be compensated for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages, for instance. If you would like to learn more about the possibility of filing a claim or even participating in a class action lawsuit, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance at your earliest convenience.
You Must File Promptly
If you are interested in pursuing a claim for the harm that you or your child suffered associated with the incident described above, it is essential that you are aware that all claims are subject to deadlines. All claims are subject to a statute of limitations, which determines the specific length of time that claimants have to file their claims. If they do not file within the appropriate length of time, they could lose their right to sue.
Typically, personal injury claims in California are subject to a two-year statute of limitations, meaning that claimants only have two years to file their claims. However, based on the details of your claim, certain exceptions could apply – exceptions that can affect the deadline that applies to your claim.
To ensure that you thoroughly understand the statute of limitations that applies to your claim, it is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible. The experts at our law firm are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with all the information that you need to ensure that you file your claim on time.
Contact Normandie Law Firm Today
If you or your child were affected by the fuel dump that occurred on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, you might have grounds to pursue a claim for all the harm suffered. Whether there were complications to the minor skin and eye irritation requiring additional treatment, or the incident caused you and your family to constantly flinch at airplanes overhead due to the constant fear resulting from the incident – you have grounds to sue. If you would like to learn more about the possibility of pursuing a claim, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm at your earliest convenience.
At Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers have many years of experience handling all sorts of claims – always fighting for the rights of our clients. We are committed to providing all affected parties with the legal representation that they need. Because many people are afraid of expensive legal fees, our firm offers free legal services.
Our free legal services include free consultations and free second opinions. During our free consultations and free second opinions, our experienced lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns. Our lawyers will evaluate your claim and provide you with all the information that you need to take legal action. If you would like to benefit from our free legal services, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with our experts at your earliest convenience.
Our firm offers a Zero-Fee guarantee that ensures that our clients will never be required to pay any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Our firm is also based on a strict contingency structure; therefore, our clients will not have to pay anything until after their claims are successful. If you are ready to discuss your claim with the experts at our firm, do not hesitate to contact us immediately.
