Originally Posted by
TheManager
Not a lawyer but understand the TWA pilots reasoning.
They have estimated damages in the 1.2 to 1.5 billion dollar range. Obviously, the full amount will not be awarded but some percentage of it will when the judge determines the damages.
Even a reasonable low 20% puts ALPA at 240 to 300 million dollars. That would likely bankrupt ALPA in which the financial award would become largely uncollectable.
They want to settle for an amount that will bleed them dry but not cause them to default on the judgement.
ALPA is between a rock and a hard place. Become finacially hobbled, or, worst case bankrupt. Their fate if they did not mediate would also be in the hands of the judge that has admonished and sanctioned them and their counsel for the destruction of key evidence. That was not taken lightly by the judge.
Don't take my word for it. Read the actual court document that describes the willful and premeditated destruction of evidence on ALPA's part.
http://www.twapilot.org/TWA%20vs.%20...tionsBrief.pdf
It becomes easy to see perhaps why the jury rendered the 12-0 verdict rather quickly.
Interesting how the T and G did not touch on this. Sadly, if ALPA goes down it will be at its own hand as one of the 7 deadly sins will have reared its head... Greed.