Judge Moves To Speed Up 9/11 Lawsuits Against Airlines

Judge Moves To Speed Up 9/11 Lawsuits Against Airlines

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index...id=1&aid=71633

July 13, 2007

With some September 11th victims' families still suing for damages, a federal judge has reversed the trial schedule in an effort to speed up possible payments.

Forty-one cases are still pending against airlines and their security contractors.

But now, U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein has scheduled trials to determine damages before a jury decides who is at fault.

Damages are usually decided in the second part of a trial, after blame has been settled.

The judge said many families have not been able to settle with the defendants because they can't agree on how much the families are owed.

He says the damages trials will suggest a range of possible jury awards, allowing families to reach settlements.

The trials are set to begin this September.