$25,000 per pax in LEX

[FraxJockey]

Can you believe this:

"Comair offered to pay $25,000 per passenger to each family who lost a loved one. Meanwhile, law firms lined up to represent families who may want to sue."

Here is the rest of the article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060831/ap_on_re_us/kentucky_crash

Get ready to open up the pocketbook.

 

[imacdog]

What is there not to believe? Comair is making an immediate payment to help families with expenses, knowing fully well that they will be paying a larger settlement in the future.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

"But we also recognize there likely will be additional financial demands at this difficult time, and we hope this form of assistance can help alleviate some of the immediate financial pressures."

They are doing the responsible thing in my mind. They are not trying to buy off the families if that is what you are thinking. Funerals have to be paid for, motgages and bills still need to be paid, etc...all while one or possibly two breadwinners for some families have been lost.

Unfortunately, life (meaning bill collectors and the such) is going on.

 

[FraxJockey]

I'm sure if they took the $25,000 they would have to sign some kind of document/waiver. Funerals are expensive, how much I don't know, but I think $25K would be a minimum. That's one of the reasons I got a 500K life insurance policy when my kids were born.

 

[Metro752]

Why not spit on their bodies?

I understand 25,000x49 is a lot of money.....a whopping $1.225 Million.

Who could have, knowingly, approved the release of such an insulting offer? A major airline with at least 160 multi-million dollar airplanes.

 

[John Pennekamp]

Why not spit on their bodies?

I understand 25,000x49 is a lot of money.....a whopping $1.225 Million.

Who could have, knowingly, approved the release of such an insulting offer? A major airline with at least 160 multi-million dollar airplanes.

Dude, chill! Thry're offering immediate aid for funerals and bills, not a final offer!

 

[Metro752]

Dude, chill! Thry're offering immediate aid for funerals and bills, not a final offer!

Your Comair PR people better get on the horn then because CNN, FNC, and all these websites don't mention that it is intended for funerals.

$25,000 is extremely generous for funeral costs.

 

[xjcsa]

Before all you geniuses jump on Comair, here's the deal. This is a *standard* first step in accident response. I was on the ASSIST (accident response) team for Mesaba and Northwest, and they had the same plan, to deal with immediate expenses of the families. They are *not* required to sign any kind of waiver of liability; the money is solely intended to help the families get through the first weeks after the accident. It's a gesture of goodwill - would you all rather they let the families starve and the bodies rot?

 

[chperplt]

If I'm not mistaken, this 25K payout to each family is a DOT requirement. When my two friends were killed in a Beech 1900 accident, both families got 25K from the airline.

 

[FraxJockey]

If I'm not mistaken, this 25K payout to each family is a DOT requirement. When my two friends were killed in a Beech 1900 accident, both families got 25K from the airline.

That makes more sense.

 

[Auto-Rotator]

Comair's $25K Offer-Let's Get this Straight!

Hey Everyone... Let's get several things correct about Comair's Offier to pay $25K to each of the family members: (1) This is totally a gesture supported by Delta to the deceased loved ones out of Comair's pockets in view of what happened; nothing more, nothing less. (2) There are no waivers, requirements that preclude anyone at anytime entering into any legal suits against Comair/Delta, etc. in making these payments. Others have stated these are gestures by airlines; some of which is mandated by the Passenger Assistance Act, but this is over and above those mandated amounts. (3) Comair (and I am NOT employed by Comair/Delta), is doing almost everything within their power and control to provide assistance, understanding and benevolence to all parties affected by this tragedy. (4) In fact, the legal liability as to how all of this eventually is uncovered, will be 100% born by the Aviation Insurance community; that being ultimately, some may be Comair/Delta's policies, some could be policies for and on behalf of the City of Lexington/Lexington-Blue Grass Airport/some could even be attributable to other entities involved in the design of the taxiways/lighting or all of the variable factors that could be a part of the causal report rendered by the NTSB and there will be much more of that still to come.
One thing that you can bet on, is that there will be an average per person ultimate payout of about $3.0 Million each and that, my friends, tallies up to a big, whopping $147 Million United States Greenback Dollars... so the estimated Insurance Reserves should be at least $150 Million; which does not count the $20 Million dollar aircraft that is a total loss.

Comair is doing absolutely the best thing within their financial constraints at this moment in time to make these bereavement payments.

 

[DrewBlows]

Your Comair PR people better get on the horn then because CNN, FNC, and all these websites don't mention that it is intended for funerals.

$25,000 is extremely generous for funeral costs.

Do you have a reading comprehension problem? In the very next paragraph a Comair spokesperson addresses what the money is for. This is not a story.

Comair offered to pay $25,000 per passenger to each family who lost a loved one. Meanwhile, law firms lined up to represent families who may want to sue.


"We understand that no monetary relief can overcome the grief of losing a loved one," Comair spokeswoman Kate Marx said. "But we also recognize there likely will be additional financial demands at this difficult time, and we hope this form of assistance can help alleviate some of the immediate financial pressures."

 

[PCL_128]

This is not a story.

That never stops the media. They'll make it a story.

 

[spitfire1500]

I'm sure if they took the $25,000 they would have to sign some kind of document/waiver. Funerals are expensive, how much I don't know, but I think $25K would be a minimum. That's one of the reasons I got a 500K life insurance policy when my kids were born.

A funeral is not 25K before I was a pilot I was a Funeral Director. An expensive funeral is 6k and you can go as low as $1500.00 (at least at the firms Im familiar with). If we were charging 25K for funerals I would have never left the business. I could do 4 or 5 a year and go on vacation the rest of the year.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Others on this board have already summed it up, but the $25,000 is paid by Comair/Delta's Managers under the "Family Assistance Act." Here are links to the rules, if anyone is interested:

http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2000/SPC0001.pdf
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi...=104_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ264.104.pdf

This was designed to make it easier for families following a disaster by requiring the airlines to assist family members versus the the way things used to be (a mad rush by Plaintiff Attorneys and Insurance Company Representatives)

 

[Ameriagle]

That never stops the media. They'll make it a story.

I have heard multipule media reports making reference to the fact that the crew, apparently, boarded the wrong aircraft when first arriving in the morning, almost as if they are trying to establish a pattern of behaviour (sp). I've worked for more than one airline and in any case have always went to the aircraft I was directed to by gate agents, ground personnel etc. Referencing the paperwork is when you realize you have been given bad information and change aircraft. Completely irresponsible reporting, and absolutely no relevance to the events that transpired IMHO!

 

[fieldinsight]

Dude, chill! Thry're offering immediate aid for funerals and bills, not a final offer!

Each of the majors have a "family assist" type program. That's exactly what this money is for. To help the families of the victims with immediate needs, such as burying their loved ones, and making sure bills are paid until insurance companies catch up. The money offered doesn't come with "strings" attached. I was part of the program at NWA, and I've gone through the training to assist families in the event of an accident like this.

 

[gmccrj7]

When 1997 accident occurred Comair also gave financial assistance to families without any pre-conditions. When it comes to difficult times comair does the right thing.

 

[JumpCaptain]

By the time the ambulance chasers are through, those families will be using $1,000 bills for scrap paper. The 25k is a nice gesture, but it won't stop the onslaught. Good luck Comair!! Hopefully insurance pays all that.

 

[81Horse]

By the time the ambulance chasers are through, those families will be using $1,000 bills for scrap paper. The 25k is a nice gesture, but it won't stop the onslaught. Good luck Comair!! Hopefully insurance pays all that.

Pretty harsh on the families, aren't you? Their relatives got on a perfectly good airplane the other morning, and were rendered dead within minutes. Do you think they have no right to sue?

It's responsible of Comair to extend help for immediate expenses; but I don't feel sorry for the corporate entity, nor do I think it needs good luck. Comair will, I am sure, be well defended by counsel.

I share your low opinion of ambulance chasers, BTW.