Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge of conspiring to defraud the US federal government following two fatal crashes involving the 737 MAX in 2018 and 2019. According to a late-night court filing on (June) (23), (2024), Boeing will pay a $487.2 million fine, the maximum allowed by law. Additionally, Boeing has committed to investing at least $455 million over the next three years to strengthen its compliance and safety programs.
The plea deal, which prevents Boeing from facing a trial, has been criticized as a “sweetheart deal” by families of the crash victims. These families argue that the agreement makes concessions to Boeing that other criminal defendants would not receive and fails to hold the company accountable for the deaths of 346 people. The families have filed an objection in federal district court in Texas, arguing that the deal is deceptive and offensive.
A guilty plea could complicate Boeing’s efforts to secure government contracts in the US. However, Boeing’s importance to the US defense and space industries, as well as its global role in commercial aviation, may mitigate these consequences. The company can also seek a waiver for government contracts.
Paul Cassell, attorney for the families and professor at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, stated, “This sweetheart deal fails to recognize that because of Boeing’s conspiracy, 346 people died. Through crafty lawyering between Boeing and DOJ, the deadly consequences of Boeing’s crime are being hidden.”
Families’ Fight for Justice
The families affected by the crashes are determined to challenge the plea agreement. They intend to travel to an anticipated court hearing to argue against the deal before Judge O’Connor, who is overseeing the criminal matter. The families believe that a public trial would allow all facts surrounding the case to be aired in a fair and open forum before a jury.
Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices and Lead Counsel for the families in the civil litigation pending in federal district court in Chicago, expressed the families’ disappointment with the Department of Justice (DOJ). He stated, “Much more evidence has been presented over the last five years that demonstrates that the culture of Boeing putting profits over safety hasn’t changed. This plea agreement only furthers that skewed corporate objective. The families will continue to fight for justice and safety for the flying public in the names of their deceased loved ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”
The final decision on whether to accept the plea agreement and Boeing’s guilty plea rests with Judge O’Connor. The judge has the authority to reject the plea deal if it is deemed not in the public interest. The families, represented by their legal teams, are urging the judge to reject the plea and set the matter for a public trial.
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