Practice Areas & Industries: Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, L.L.P.

Practice/Industry Group Overview

Since the firm's beginning, Beirne, Maynard & Parsons attorneys have provided legal representation to all sectors of the aviation industry in all areas of aviation litigation. Our representation covers the entire spectrum of issues challenging the airline industry, product manufacturers, fixed base operators, and individual pilots.

Our firm's litigators have successfully defended domestic and foreign airlines, including the largest domestic carriers and some foreign-based carriers. We have successfully defended airframe manufacturers, including the makers of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. We have also successfully defended the major aircraft engine and avionics manufacturers.

Our representation has covered state and federal court litigation from coast to coast involving wrongful death and products liability cases alleging defective design, manufacture, and marketing. These cases typically involve multiple plaintiffs, complex engineering and design concepts, and complex federal, state and international procedure. Our broadly based courtroom skills and in-depth experience in product liability defenses, as well as our knowledge of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and regulations, international treaties such as the Warsaw Convention, and ICAO Regulations, are significant advantages to our clients in these actions.

We also use our extensive experience and knowledge of procedure in federal and state courts to formulate creative and effective strategies for countering plaintiffs who engage in "forum shopping" to secure more lucrative settlements.

In addition to product-related matters, our attorneys have also assisted air carriers and aircraft and avionics manufacturers in commercial law and administrative controversies, handling matters ranging from alleged sexual harassment to maintenance contract disputes. We have represented individual pilots in FAA proceedings and hearings. With our acknowledged strengths in in-depth technology analysis and effective trial and administrative advocacy - even in high-profile controversies involving injury or death - the attorneys of the firm's aviation team are well positioned to defend the interests of global aviation clients.

Representative examples of our broad-based experience in aviation litigation include the following:

• Defended an American avionics manufacturer in a wrongful death action relating to the death of an Australian citizen arising out of a helicopter crash in Canada. The plaintiffs sought damages under Texas law even though the case had no connection to the state.
• Defended a U.S. airline against a passenger's claim that the airline's negligence caused a permanent loss of hearing. The passenger was a medical doctor and claimed the injury prevented him from practicing medicine.
• Represented a European commercial airframe manufacturer in an arbitration dispute with a major U.S. air carrier regarding a maintenance cost guarantee contract.
• Defended a manufacturer of private aircraft in a product liability action involving extensive fire damage. Our strategy was to file aggressive motions challenging the qualifications of the plaintiff's expert witnesses under the Daubert standard, coupled with motions for summary judgment. The case was ultimately resolved in mediation.
• Defended a helicopter service in a wrongful death action arising out of a helicopter crash in Mexico. Our aggressive defense included a motion to apply the law of Mexico.
• Defended a major U.S. air carrier against a passenger's claims alleging discrimination and harassment in the screening and boarding process.