The families of the victims of the 2 fatal 737 Max crashes are demanding that the Justice Department impose a fantastic of nearly $25 billion on Boeing, saying the corporate committed “the deadliest economic crime in U.S. history.”
That amount is “legally justified and clearly appropriate,” Paul Cassell, a lawyer representing the families of 15 victims, said in a letter to the Justice Department on Wednesday. Cassell suggested that $14 billion to $22 billion of the overall could possibly be suspended if Boeing devotes those funds to independent corporate oversight and enhancements to its safety programs. Cassell also said the Justice Department should seek criminal prosecution of the corporate and compel the plane maker's board to satisfy with the families.
The letter got here a day after Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun faced public questioning from U.S. senators who called on the corporate to repair its “broken safety culture.”
Boeing and the U.S. Department of Justice didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment during a U.S. holiday.
Boeing has been under increased scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers since a 737 Max fuselage panel ripped off in January. The near-disaster sparked a criminal investigation and prompted the U.S. Justice Department to think about terminating a non-prosecution agreement reached after the 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019. That agreement would have expired just days after the accident.
The U.S. Department of Justice found last month that the corporate violated the 2021 agreement – a conclusion Boeing disputes – and now has until July 7 to choose what penalty, if any, Boeing should face. Possible options include criminal charges or the drafting of a brand new contract with additional terms.
In the letter, the families also asked the Justice Department to prosecute Boeing executives who were at the corporate on the time of the 2 crashes. Prosecutors had previously told the families that the five-year deadline for bringing charges would likely derail any prosecution efforts against individuals.
©2024 Bloomberg LP Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
image credit : www.mercurynews.com