With the United States (US) District Court for the Northern District of Texas, a lawyer for the relatives of those killed in the Boeing 737 MAX tragedy has filed a new lawsuit. It is argued in the case that the company’s not guilty plea violated its agreement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
The manufacturer allegedly breached the terms of the agreement with the DOJ by entering a not-guilty plea in a case before the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas on January 26, 2023, according to the document, which the lawyer submitted on February 1 of 2023.
Boeing’s settlement with the DOJ contained a provision that would have shielded the business from additional legal action, but US District Judge Reed O’Connor ordered the company to come before the court in October 2022.
Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion in compensation and fines to the impacted airlines and the families of the fatalities as part of the two parties’ settlement in January 2021.
Negating taking ownership of one’s responsibilities
According to District Judge O’Connor, it is illegal for businesses to reach bargain or deferred prosecution deals without the victims’ consent. Boeing’s settlement with the DOJ was in violation of this rule. So, on January 26, 2023, the business was required to show up in court.
The business afterwards entered a plea of innocence. The corporation did, however, explicitly contradict “the Statement of Facts saying that Boeing is guilty of conspiring to cheat the FAA,” according to the attorney for the families of the victims, by doing so.
Boeing was prohibited from “contradicting the acceptance of responsibility” under the terms of the deal with the DOJ, the petition claims.
The families of the victims also requested that the judge appoint an impartial monitor to keep an eye on the safety and ethical standards of the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). Boeing must refrain from committing any other crimes, O’Connor said in denying that request.
