Public Justice Formally Joins Bleed Air Lawsuit
Posted by
Brandon WestOctober 05, 2009 8:14 PM
For Terry Williams, the health effects of contaminated bleed air have been life altering. A flight attendant for 17 years, Ms. Williams suffered injuries preventing her from working, from taking care of her children, and from functioning in a manor she would consider normal. Doctors have connected her injuries with an exposure to bleed air contaminated with toxic engine oil fumes.
“Public Justice is joining this case because toxic bleed air is a problem of national importance,” said Leslie Brueckner, the lead Public Justice attorney on the case. “One of Public Justice’s core missions is to use damage litigation to compensate victims of corporate misconduct. Success in this case will also create a financial incentive for Boeing to get the poison out of the air breathed by its passengers and crew members.”
The case focuses on the design of the passenger ventilation system used by McDonnell-Douglas on the MD-82, which ‘bleeds’ compressed air off from the engines and is routed back to the passenger compartment. The design of the airplane’s ventilation system would permit toxic chemicals from burned engine oil or hydraulic fluid to enter the cabin air supply without filtration.
This case could have broad reach in the travel industry in regards to public health and safety. For airlines, this could start a pro-active process in addressing safety issues like contaminated bleed air before people are injured.
Toxic Bleed Air – Additional Information
The complaint: Williams v. McDonnell Douglas Corp.
Prior coverage: Airplane Ventilation System Defect the Focus of Air Bleed Contamination Case
Informative reading: The Airliner Cabin Environment and the Health of Passengers and Crew