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Old 12-24-2005, 11:30 AM
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RockBottom
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Default Southwest MDW accident pax sues

Dec. 24, 2005, 11:46AM

Southwest passenger in runway mishap sues
Associated Press

CHICAGO — A woman who was aboard a Southwest Airlines jet when it slid off the end of a runway at Midway International Airport in a snowstorm earlier this month sued the airline and the city Friday.

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Bernice James' lawsuit claims the Dallas-based airline was careless and negligent in landing the plane on the snowy runway on Dec. 8, causing her to suffer "severe fear and terror, emotional distress" and physical injuries.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Cook County Circuit Court and seeks unspecified damages, does not give details about her injuries.

James of Chicago also contends the city failed to properly inspect the runway and should have closed Midway because of "unsafe and adverse conditions."

Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Paula Berg declined comment Friday. Jennifer Hoyle, a spokeswoman for the city's legal department, said she had not seen the lawsuit and couldn't comment.

Earlier this week, two other passengers aboard the Baltimore-to-Chicago flight sued Southwest, the city and Chicago-based Boeing Co.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident, which killed 6-year-old Joshua Woods of Leroy, Ind. He was inside a car crushed by the plane when it skidded off the end of a runway, through a fence and into the street.

His family's attorney, Ronald Stearney Jr., said Friday he intends to file a lawsuit but would not say when.
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