A CNN Analyst and former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General, Mary Schiavo seeks accountability and industry change from corporations, institutions and the government so that they may meet their obligation to protect the safety and security of the traveling public. View Mary's media clips .
With years of experience in transportation litigation, Mary represents victims and their families suffering from negligence of airline, automotive, commercial trucking, motorcoach and rail companies.
A leader of the firm's aviation team, Mary has represented passengers and crew of most major U.S. air crashes, as well as pilots and passengers on private or charter planes. She represents passengers, pilots, flight attendants and select owners and operators. Her experience with major, complex aviation litigation includes more than 50 cases on behalf of the family members of the passengers and crew of all the planes hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001.
Mary has held numerous government appointments under three U.S. Presidents, including that of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation from 1990 to 1996. Under Mary's direction, the agency investigated air safety, crimes and disasters; secured more than 1,000 criminal convictions; and exposed billions of dollars of fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer money. She testified before Congress multiple times on transportation safety, security, budgeting and infrastructure. In recognition of her work combating the use of bogus aircraft parts worldwide, Mary was honored by Aviation Week with its Aviation Laurel Award in 1992 and 1995 and was inducted into the Aviation Laurel Hall of Fame in 1997.
As an Assistant U.S. Attorney early in her career, Mary litigated civil cases and prosecuted federal white-collar crimes, bank and securities fraud, mail and wire fraud, drug trafficking and counterfeiting. During her appointment, she also served on the U.S. Department of Justice's Organized Crime and Racketeering Strike Force, prosecuting high-profile criminal cases of bank and securities fraud and related mail and wire fraud, including a large investigation of a bank and securities fraud scheme that resulted in the federal takeover of banks, savings and loans throughout the Midwest.
In 1987, Mary was selected as a White House fellow and assigned to the U.S. Attorney General, where she worked as the Special Assistant for Criminal Affairs. In this role, she reviewed high security prosecutions, prepared Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Requests, attended foreign legal summits with the Attorney General and worked on international prisoner and evidence exchanges. During this time, she also taught trial technique at the U.S. Attorney General's Advocacy Institute and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy. Her work earned her an appointment as the Assistant U.S. Secretary of Labor in 1989, where she led the Office of Labor Management Standards, supervising union elections and investigations on election and financial irregularities.
A frequent on-air contributor or consultant for several networks, Mary has appeared on ABC, CNN, CBS, Fox News, NBC, BBC, the History Channel and Discovery Channel. Named by Glamour magazine as a 1997 Woman of the Year, 1987 Working Woman of the Year and a Top Ten College Student in 1975, she has spoken about aviation safety on 20/20, 60 Minutes, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, Nancy Grace, Nightline, Oprah, The O'Reilly Factor, Today, and Your World with Neil Cavuto, among others. Mary is the author of Flying Blind, Flying Safe, a New York Times bestseller, and was featured in Time magazine for exposing the poor safety and security practices of the airlines and the failures of the federal government to properly regulate the aviation industry. She contributed to Aviation Security Management (Volume One, 2008) and Supply Chain Security (Volumes One and Two, 2010).
The Blameless Blue Sky Series
Mary is the author of a series of aviation books, including:
Mary received her pilot's license soon after her driver's license, and later completed private and commercial flight training at The Ohio State University. She returned to The Ohio State University as the McConnell Aviation Chair and professor from 1998-2002 and as the Enarson Professor of Public Policy from 1997-1998. She has also served as a practitioner in residence at the New York University School of Law, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Lowcountry SC chapter of the American Red Cross.
* Please remember that every case is different. Any result we achieve for one client in one matter does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
Awards, Accolades & Recognitions
Best Lawyers
2017 Charleston, S.C. “Lawyer of the Year”: Mass tort litigation/class actions - plaintiffs
2010-2026 Mass tort litigation/class actions - plaintiffs
National Law Journal
2015 Outstanding Women Lawyers
Benchmark Plaintiff
2012-2013 National “Litigation Star”: mass tort/product liability
2012-2014 South Carolina “Litigation Star”: mass tort, securities, aviation
2014 Top 150 Women in Litigation list: South Carolina - mass tort, securities, aviation
Aviation Week
1997 Inducted to the Aviation Laureates Hall of Fame
1992, 1995 Aviation Laurel Award in recognition of her work combating the use of bogus aircraft parts
Blog Posts
April 18, 2018
Southwest Airlines engine explosion - Why it could happen again Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Mary F. Schiavo
January 18, 2017
If you live in one of these nine states, you’ll soon need a passport to fly domestically or enter a federal courthouse Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Mary F. Schiavo
December 16, 2016
What Airlines Not To Fly This Holiday Season Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Mary F. Schiavo
News
March 23, 2026
Two Pilots Killed in Late-Night Runway Collision at LaGuardia Airport
by: Motley Rice
February 25, 2026
What Causes Weather-Related Flight Hazards?
by:
James R. Brauchle
Olutola 'Tola' Familoni
and assigned to the U.S. Attorney General, where she worked as the Special Assistant for Criminal Affairs. In this role, she reviewed high security prosecutions, prepared Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Requests, attended foreign legal summits with the Attorney General and worked on international prisoner and evidence exchanges. During this time, she also taught trial technique at the U.S. Attorney General's Advocacy Institute and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy. Her work earned her an appointment as the Assistant U.S. Secretary of Labor in 1989, where she led the Office of Labor Management Standards, supervising union elections and investigations on election and financial irregularities.
A frequent on-air contributor or consultant for several networks, Mary has appeared on ABC, CNN, CBS, Fox News, NBC, BBC, the History Channel and Discovery Channel. Named byGlamourmagazine as a 1997 Woman of the Year, 1987 Working Woman of the Year and a Top Ten College Student in 1975, she has spoken about aviation safety on20/20,60 Minutes, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, Nancy Grace, Nightline, Oprah, The O'Reilly Factor, Today, andYour World with Neil Cavuto, among others. Mary is the author ofFlying Blind, Flying Safe, aNew York Timesbestseller, featured inTimemagazine for exposing the poor safety and security practices of the airlines and the failures of the federal government to properly regulate the aviation industry. She contributed toAviation Security Management(Volume One, 2008) andSupply Chain Security(Volumes One and Two, 2010).
Mary received her pilot's license soon after her driver's license, and later completed private and commercial flight training at The Ohio State University. She returned to The Ohio State University as the McConnell Aviation Chair and professor from 1998-2002 and as the Enarson Professor of Public Policy from 1997-1998. She has also served as a practitioner in residence at the New York University School of Law.
Awards and Accolades:
Aviation Week
1997Inducted to the Aviation Laureates Hall of Fame
1992, 1995Aviation Laurel Award in recognition of her work combating the use of bogus aircraft parts
Benchmark Plaintiff
2012 -2013National Litigation Star : mass tort/product liability
2012 -2014South Carolina Litigation Star : mass tort, securities, aviation
2014Top 150 Women in Litigationlist: South Carolina - mass tort, securities, aviation
The Best Lawyers in America
2010 -2014Mass tort litigation/class actions- plaintiffs
News
MH17 Tragedy Unfolds: Aviation attorneys discuss horrific ending for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17
July 18, 2014
Massachusetts Private Plane: Aviation attorneys reviewing crash that took the lives of seven
June 01, 2014
2014 Benchmark Litigation: Several Motley Rice Attorneys recognized in national publication
April 22, 2014
Top 150 Women: Motley Rice members included on Benchmark Plaintiff's inaugural Top 150 Women list
April 22, 2014
Helping the Underdogs: Motley Rice named to 2014 Plaintiffs' Hot List
March 10, 2014 Member: Associations:
American Association for Justice
American Bar Association, First Female Assembly Delegate, House of Delegates 1986 -1989
International Society of Air Safety Investigators, affiliate member
International Air and Transportation Safety Bar
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respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
