What is an Old Pilot Worth

[~~~^~~~]

Whether or not insurance applies depends on a lot of facts we don't know.

Generally, insurance is meant to indemnify (pay back) the costs associated with accidents, not intentional acts. If there was an intent to fire this pilot because of his age, then the insurance policy would not provide coverage. However, if the Pilot was having problems passing a check ride, then there might be a bona fide reason for his dismissal.

 

[Spooky 1]

Whether or not insurance applies depends on a lot of facts we don't know.

Generally, insurance is meant to indemnify (pay back) the costs associated with accidents, not intentional acts. If there was an intent to fire this pilot because of his age, then the insurance policy would not provide coverage. However, if the Pilot was having problems passing a check ride, then there might be a bona fide reason for his dismissal.

I will say it again since must not have understood it the first time. You do not insure for punitive damages. Obviously the bulk of this award was punitive in nature since there was no way his earnings would have come remotely close to this number. The punitive nature of this awrd was meant to teach PrivatAir a lesson. I think regardless of any appeal, the message was loud and clear.

Airlines so far, have never been the recipient of punitive damages. The first time it happens, you can turn off the lights as they will never have pockets deep enough to recover. All one needs to do is look at the asbestos industry and you will see what happens when this type litigation takes over common sense.

 

[linder]

Just finished reading a report by Aero-News ( http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm ). If true (and ANN has proven to be a very accurate publication) then I hope this award is upheld and Capt. Baker takes over ownership of PrivateAir....or puts this scumbag company out of business. Check out this fact presented in court (quoted from the ANN article):


A highly decorated veteran of 242 combat missions, and a pilot with a perfect military and civilian flight record, he was terminated by PrivatAir after a flight attendant serving on the aircraft sent a letter to Willis, Moore, and PrivatAir accusing Capt. Baker of serious safety violations and portraying him as suffering from mental problems, feeble minded and too old to continue to fly.
During pretrial discovery, the flight attendant admitted that he had not written the letter, but that the other two pilots employed by PrivatAir had.
Evidence was presented at trial in support of Captain Baker's allegation of a conspiracy among the flight crew, assisted by PrivatAir, to replace Captain Baker with a younger pilot, who was a personal friend of one of the defendant pilots.

Too bad we can't all find out who the accusing flight crew. Sounds like they need a blanket party.

 

[Spooky 1]

Just finished reading a report by Aero-News ( http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm ). If true (and ANN has proven to be a very accurate publication) then I hope this award is upheld and Capt. Baker takes over ownership of PrivateAir....or puts this scumbag company out of business. Check out this fact presented in court (quoted from the ANN article):


A highly decorated veteran of 242 combat missions, and a pilot with a perfect military and civilian flight record, he was terminated by PrivatAir after a flight attendant serving on the aircraft sent a letter to Willis, Moore, and PrivatAir accusing Capt. Baker of serious safety violations and portraying him as suffering from mental problems, feeble minded and too old to continue to fly.
During pretrial discovery, the flight attendant admitted that he had not written the letter, but that the other two pilots employed by PrivatAir had.
Evidence was presented at trial in support of Captain Baker's allegation of a conspiracy among the flight crew, assisted by PrivatAir, to replace Captain Baker with a younger pilot, who was a personal friend of one of the defendant pilots.

Too bad we can't all find out who the accusing flight crew. Sounds like they need a blanket party.

I'll second that motion. These low lifes must be somewhere around SoCal. Intersting that the first 53M looks as it could be covered by insurance, while the second 10M is punitive would not be covered. Hope he gets all of it but probably not. At least the message is loud and clear.