9/11 Families To Get Day In Court With Actor James Woods As Possible Witness

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9/11 families to get day in court with actor James Woods as possible witness

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/07/29/2009-07-29_911_families_to_get_day_in_court.html

BY Thomas Zambito
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Wednesday, July 29th 2009, 4:00 AM

Actor James Woods may testify that he spotted the Al Qaeda terrorists on an August 2001 flight when the first wrongful-death trial from 9/11 kicks off in April.

Manhattan Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein on Tuesday set April 12, 2010, for the start of a trial spurred by lawsuits filed by the families of victims who died aboard hijacked planes that crashed into the twin towers on 9/11.

Hellerstein gave the families' lawyer, Donald Migliori, until Friday to choose which case or cases will start in April.

Only three families are left of the 100 who decided to pursue legal action against the airlines and airport security companies rather than accept a settlement from the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

The fund recipients divvied up $500 million in settlements.

Hellerstein said a jury a month later will hear the first of dozens of lawsuits filed by individuals who blame their respiratory illnesses on exposure to toxins released into the air when the towers fell.

Pending against the airlines are lawsuits filed by the family of flight attendant Sara Low, 28, and passenger Barbara Keating, 72, who were on American Airlines Flight 11, which crashed into 1 World Trade Center. Also remaining is a lawsuit filed by the family of hockey scout Mark Bavis, 31, who was on United Airlines Flight 175 when it hit the towers.

"This is a big day," Migliori said. "We have never trusted that we would ever get one [a trial date]."

Woods, who played former Mayor Rudy Giuliani in "Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story," gave a deposition several months ago in Providence, R.I., Migliori said.

Shortly after the attacks, Woods revealed he was on an August 2001 flight from Boston to Los Angeles when he became suspicious about several Middle Eastern men sitting next to him.

The men who Woods said looked like some of the 19 hijackers didn't order a drink or speak to a stewardess but appeared to be keeping a close tab on the crew.

"I think this plane is going to be hijacked," Woods reportedly told an attendant. "I know how serious it is to say this."

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WOODS SET TO TESTIFY AT 9/11 TRIAL

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/woods-set-to-testify-at-911-trial_1111204

7/29/2009

Actor JAMES WOODS could take to the stand in the first wrongful-death case stemming from the 9/11 terrorist attacks when it hits court in April (10), according to a new report.

The Oscar-winner allegedly testified at a deposition earlier this year (09) over his claims he saw several of the 19 Al Qaeda hijackers on his American Airlines flight from Boston, Massachusetts to Los Angeles a month before the 2001 attacks.

According to the New York Post, Woods grew suspicious of the Middle Eastern men onboard after noticing they didn't order drinks or speak to attendants but seemed to be carefully monitoring the crew.

He reportedly told a staff member, "I think this plane is going to be hijacked. I know how serious it is to say this."

Now Woods could once again be called to testify at a hearing into the deaths of flight attendant Sara Low and passenger Barbara Keating, who were killed when American Airlines Flight 11 flew into the World Trade Center's North Tower in New York.

A Manhattan federal judge has set 12 April 2010 as the start date for the case brought by the families of three victims, who are taking legal action against the airline and airport security.

A third lawsuit has been filed by the relatives of hockey scout Mark Bavis, 31, who was on United Airlines Flight 175 when it hit the South Tower.

Another 97 families refused to pursue legal action and instead accepted settlements from the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund, which divided up $500 million (£334 million) between the families.