Mass Disaster Litigation

The litigation of mass disaster claims involves a volatile combination of factors that require the attention of lawyers experienced in the management of the diverse issues that confront defendants in such matters. Mass disasters, such as major air disasters, often involve a multitude of wrongful death, personal injury, property damage, environmental, and business interruption claims arising against a backdrop of civil investigations, potential criminal probes, and unrelenting media coverage. Defendants and their counsel must mobilize resources to control the gathering and production of documents, the marshaling of evidence, and the identification of witnesses, while advising management, counseling employees, and establishing procedures to address the needs and concerns of survivors, victims, and the general public. 

Anania Bandklayder Blackwell Baumgarten Torricella & Stein has a history of involvement in mass disaster litigation. The firm has handled a host of air crash matters, including claims arising from several newsworthy domestic and international air crashes. Lawyers at the firm, either directly or working with national counsel, have been involved in a wide range of matters relating to the management of the response to a mass disaster, including representing management and employees providing statements to government investigators, identifying sensitive documents and interviewing key witnesses, working with corporate counsel in addressing media inquiries, negotiating early private resolutions with victims, retaining and working with criminal defense counsel to manage government investigations and criminal probes, and litigating the civil claims arising from the incident.