The Massachusetts Port Authority is asking that it be dropped from the wrongful death case filed by Bavis family. Mark Bavis was on United Airlines Flight 175 when terrorists flew it into one of the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001.
In their wrongful death case, the Bavis family is claiming that the hijackers were to board the plane undetected negligent security because the screeners at Logan International Airport in Boston were poorly trained and unqualified. Massport has responded with its own filing and claims that it played no part in screening passengers and that it had no “causal connection” to the attacks. The agency says that even if better security could have prevented the planes from being hijacked, passenger screening is the job of the airlines and that they are the ones who subcontract the security companies.
Massport has been dismissed from other 9/11-related wrongful death lawsuits that have named it as a defendant and so far has not had to contribute to any of the settlements paid to families. Lawyers for the Bavis family, however, have continued to argue that the airport does play a part in screening and that Federal Aviation Regulations and United States Federal Aviation Administration had charged Massport with overall security at the Boston international airport.
Also, just last week, the Boston Herald reported that new court documents in the case allege that state troopers assigned to protect Logan International Airport prior to September 11, 2001 failed to act on tips that Middle Eastern men had been seen shooting footage of security checkpoints at the airport. The Bavis family’s lawyers say that one of the men casing the areas was a man later identified as Mohammed Atta, the Al-Qaeda 9/11 leader.
Massachusetts Inadequate Security
Generally, if a premise lacked adequate security and this caused a violent crime to occur and someone to get injured as a result, the property owner and the entity tasked with providing that security could be held liable for Boston premises liability. Obviously, the Bavis family’s wrongful death case is not your typical inadequate security lawsuit. It is, however, a prime example of how important that the proper security measures be implemented at an airport-especially in this post-9/11 era when the threat of terrorism is more real than ever.
Massport seeks to head off 9/11 suit, Boston.com, July 7, 2011
Say Logan tips ignored by cops, Boston Herald, July 2, 2011
Related Web Resources:
MassPort
United States Federal Aviation Administration
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001
Boston Logan International Airport
More Blog Posts:
Wrongful Death: Family of 9/11 Victim Claims Security Screeners at Logan International Airport Did Poor Job, Boston Injury Lawyer, June 21, 2011
Sterling Man Sues Strip Club for Worcester Personal Injury Over Alleged Beating By Club Employee, Boston Injury Lawyer, March 18, 2011
Roxbury Man Killed, Teen Injured on MBTA Bus; Riders Call for Better Security, Boston Injury Lawyer, November 5, 2010