Nationwide class certification granted in World Airways case

[RedDogC130]

A federal judge on Wednesday certified a class action lawsuit against World Airways Inc. that stems from the airline's decision in late 2003 to halt flights to Nigeria, which left passengers stranded.
In November 2005, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) found Peachtree City, Ga.-based World Airways Inc. "violated U.S. laws and regulations and engaged in unfair and deceptive practices in its conduct of flights between the United States and Nigeria," according to the plaintiffs' co-lead counsel. The findings were contained in a consent order entered between World Airways and DOT, which imposed a $350,000 fine on World Airways. DOT began its investigation in February 2004.
"We sought a DOT investigation because we were certain World Airways had broken the law," said John Edozie, one of plaintiffs' counsel. "We are happy to see that the DOT has succeeded in getting World to accept legal responsibility for its misconduct. After almost two years of litigation, we expect that a jury will come to the same conclusion as the DOT -- World Airways violated the law and engaged in unfair and deceptive practices."
World Airways is a subsidiary of Peachtree City, Ga.-based World Air Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: WLDAE). The company's 430 pilots went on strike in late January.

http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2006/01/30/daily29.html


And the hits just keep on coming.

 

[RedDogC130]

Another article

NEW YORK, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- In a lawsuit seeking to protect the rights of thousands of passengers stranded in Nigeria and the United States, plaintiffs' counsel won a significant victory against World Airways Holding Inc. (Nasdaq: WLDAE - News), operating as World Airways, Inc., when Federal Judge Raymond J. Dearie, in an Order dated February 1, 2006, granted nationwide class certification to the suit. The lawsuit relates to World Airways' decision to cease flight operations to Nigeria, abandoning thousands of passengers with round trip tickets and leaving the majority of them stranded in Lagos, Nigeria.
John Doherty, a partner at Thacher Proffitt & Wood, LLP, plaintiffs' co-lead counsel in the litigation, applauded the ruling. "The court's ruling today is another important step toward forcing World to honor its obligations to these passengers," said Mr. Doherty.
On November 1, 2005, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) determined that World Airways Inc., violated United States laws and regulations and engaged in unfair and deceptive practices in its conduct of flights between the United States and Nigeria. The findings were contained in a consent order entered between World and the DOT. The consent order imposes a $350,000 fine on World Airways. "We sought a DOT investigation because we were certain World Airways had broken the law. We are happy to see that the DOT has succeeded in getting World to accept legal responsibility for its misconduct. After almost two years of litigation, we expect that a jury will come to the same conclusion as the DOT: World Airways violated the law and engaged in unfair and deceptive practices," said John Edozie, one of plaintiffs' counsel.
In another development, World Airways, through its wholly owned subsidiary, North American Airline, Inc. is currently seeking to resume service to Nigeria. "I hope World is not trying to sneak back into Nigeria without compensating the thousands of passengers damaged by its conduct," said Mr. Edozie, one of plaintiffs' counsel. "I expect that the people affected by World's conduct and Nigerian public opinion will strongly oppose any such effort." Additional information about the case and the full text of Judge Dearie's decision is available at http://www.waclassaction.com.