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2 fatal plane survivors, Star Marianas, others finalizing settlement deal
Two survivors of a fatal plane crash in 2013 on Tinian are currently finalizing their settlement with Star Marianas Air Inc. and others that they sued over the accident.
John K. Courtney, counsel for survivors Pengliang Cai and Lei Wang, and Timothy H. Bellas, counsel for Star Marianas Air and co-defendants, have informed the U.S. District Court for the NMI that they have been working amicably together toward a finalized settlement that is agreeable to all parties.
Courtney and Bellas disclosed their ongoing settlement discussions in their joint request for the court to give them more time to reach the agreeable final deal.
Early this week, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona granted the parties’ request and continued the order to show cause hearing to Oct. 22, 2018 instead of the July 23, 2018 hearing.
By that time, Manglona said, the parties must have either voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit or demonstrated cause why the court should not dismiss the case.
In a previous order to show cause, Manglona said more than 90 days have passed since the complaint was filed on Oct. 2, 2015.
Manglona asked the parties why this matter should not be dismissed.
Zhang, a Chinese national, lost her life in the airplane crash on Oct. 6, 2013 on Tinian. Cai, who is the husband of Zhang, survived the crash along with another passenger, Lei Wang.
Cai is also suing on behalf of his deceased wife against the defendants.
Cai and Wang are suing Star Marianas Air and its then-operator, Tinian Transportation Management Solutions Inc., travel agency Top Development Inc., and the deceased pilot, Luis Silva.
The plaintiffs are suing the defendants for negligence, wrongful death, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and strict liability. They asked the court to hold the defendants liable to pay them damages.
