Boca Raton Personal Injury Lawyers Blog | Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A.

CHINESE DRYWALL NEWS AND ARTICLES

2009-07-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

Battling toxic Chinese drywall
MONTREAL - A Montreal air purification firm has joined forces with Spiderman to battle what has become known as toxic Chinese drywall, a problem which is making North American homeowners sick and damaging their residences. View entire article.

Chinese Drywall Tax Deductions Sought by Lawmakers
Four U.S. lawmakers are inquiring whether property owners who have experienced Chinese drywall problems in their homes can qualify for a special tax deduction to help recoup losses caused by defective drywall that has started to emit corrosive gases. View entire article

CGL Insurer Seeks Coverage Ruling on Drywall Claims Against Contractor
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A declaratory judgment action has been filed in Florida to determine whether General Fidelity Insurance Co. has an obligation to cover Chinese drywall claims asserted against a general contractor that has purchased policies from the insurer since 2006. View entire article

Chinese drywall found in west Bradenton home
It stopped working three days after Andres and Sofia Macchiavello and their three daughters moved into their new house in Palma Sola Trace in April 2007. The air-conditioning system faltered next. Black spots began appearing on mirrors and metal jewelry. The family’s high-definition television set, which was brand new, began showing snowy reception. View entire article.

Attorney Brian Becker's Weekly Spanish Column

2009-07-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

Attorney Brian G. Becker is fluent in Spanish and pens a weekly column on various immigration topics for El Sentinel.
Cualquier reforma debe monitorear el proceder de las autoridades

Teenager Injured In SUV Accident

2009-06-30T05:40:00.000-07:00

Relatives identify the teenager as Christian Alarcon and say he was visiting his father for the weekend. Witness Dennis Marquez told CBS4 News Reporter Joan Murray that he saw the 14-year-old hanging on the side of an SUV standing on the running board. He said that he watched in horror as the boy slipped and fell under the back wheels. The child's mother was driving. "I called 9-1-1. The child was unconscious and there was blood coming out of his eye. It was sad to see because he's so young," Marquez said.

Broward Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Keyla Concepcion said the department received the emergency call at 5:44 p.m. at 227 NW 43 Ct. The child was rushed to Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. A cousin identified as Danny Reyes said, "His lungs are bruised. We have to wait and see." BSO cited the child's mother and impounded the SUV she was driving.

In all auto accident cases, it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence and to investigate the accident.d The staff at Ellis, Ged & Bodden has the experience and knowledge to analyze all avenues of recovery and will work with physicians and other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate any injuries and damages you have suffered.

CHINESE DRYWALL NEWS

2009-06-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

C. Glen Ged featured as a POWER POP in Boca/Delray magazine

2009-06-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

ELLIS, GED & BODDEN IN TRIAL, WEST PALM BEACH COURT HOUSE

2009-06-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

Joseph Duque was just 14 years old when he got caught up in an altercation during teen night at Rumbass night club in He was brutally stabbed and died in a dimly lit parking, trying to defend a friend who was being attacked by a number of unidentified individuals from the club.

2009-06-12T18:51:00.000-07:00

Attorneys from Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A. seek justice in wrongful death case, for teen stabbed at Rumbass night club in West Palm Beach on a summer night almost five years ago.

BSO: Woman, 87, killed by Amtrak in Pompano Beach may not have heard train

2009-06-03T13:47:00.000-07:00

POMPANO BEACH - The 87-year-old woman hit and killed by an Amtrak train at a Tri-Rail station Wednesday was hearing impaired and probably didn't hear the train bearing down on her, a Broward Sheriff's Office spokesman said Thursday. View Entire article

At the law firm of Ellis, Ged & Bodden, PA, we can help you explore your legal options. We offer free consultations, and can meet with you at home, at work or even in your hospital room. We’ll listen to your concerns and tell you how we can help. You need to have a team on your side, to protect your interests. If a loved one has been killed in an accident, or if you have been injured as a result of someone’s negligence, please contact our wrongful death lawyers today.

ON THE MONEY RADIO

2009-05-28T12:01:00.001-07:00

Steve Pomeranz, financial advisor from 90.7 F.M. in South Florida ON THE MONEY RADIO has invited Attorney Marius J. Ged to discuss current issues in today's economy. Topics will include: Real Estate, loan modifications,asset protection etc.. This interview aired at 7:30 p.m. May 27th, and Friday May 29th at 1:00 p.m.

Enclosed please find the link to the radio station and Steve Pomeranz show.

http://www.onthemoneyradio.org/guests/uploads/149.mp3

Salzlein Press Conference

2009-05-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

Press Conference held May 20th at Memorial Regional Hospital with Ms. Salzlein's son, John Salzlein and Attorney C. Glen Ged.

Sun Sentinel VIDEO

Accidents send 3 to hospital

2009-05-11T05:35:00.000-07:00

Two injury auto accidents on rain-slickened streets late Sunday afternoon sent three people to local hospitals, authorities said. The first crash, which involved three vehicles, occurred about 4:30 p.m. at S.W. 29th and Indian Hills Road, just southwest of the Topeka city limits. Two people injured in that crash were taken to local hospitals by American Medical Response ambulance.

Shawnee County sheriff’s Sgt. Justin Vest said the accident occurred when a white four-door Toyota Camry that was eastbound on S.W. 29th slowed to turn onto S.W. Indian Hills and was rear-ended by a Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle. The impact sent the Camry into the westbound lane of S.W. 29th, where it collided head-on with a silver four-door Oldsmobile Intrigue. Drivers of both the Camry and Intrigue were taken to the hospital. Vest said the driver of the Camry appeared to have sustained minor injuries, while the driver of the Intrigue had injuries that were considered serious but not life-threatening.

About an hour later, Topeka police responded to a two-car collision about 5:20 p.m. at S.E. 6th and Carnahan in which one vehicle crashed into a power pole. Police at the scene said a four-door Oldsmobile Alero and a four-door Ford passenger car were eastbound on S.E. 6th when the cars collided near the intersection of S.E. Carnahan After the collision, the Alero struck a wooden power pole on the southeast corner of the intersection, near a Cenex service station.
The Ford continued east on S.E. 6th and pulled into the filling station’s parking lot. A restrained child in the Alero, who had minor injuries, was taken by ambulance to the hospital as a precaution, police said. No other injuries were reported.

If you have been injured in a traffic accident, or if you have a loved one injured, the traffic accident attorneys at Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today

Teacher dies in crash involving students returning to Broward from Orlando

2009-05-04T06:27:00.000-07:00

South Florida Sun-Sentinel - The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a single-vehicle crash that killed a Broward County teacher and injured seven high school students returning from a trip to Orlando.

Gerald Jerome Oliphant, 27, died at North Broward Medical Center after the Sunday morning accident at the Coconut Creek Parkway exit ramp on Florida's Turnpike. Six other passengers, including five teenagers, are at Broward General Medical Center, where their condition is not available. The driver, Livingston James Finley, 18, of Fort Lauderdale, is in critical condition at North Broward.

Family and friends told WSVN-Ch/ 7 that Oliphant, a teacher from Oakland Park's South Florida Christian Preparatory Academy, and the seven students were driving back from a high school senior trip at Orlando's Universal Studios. Troopers say Finley fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of the Chevy Suburban. The crash happened shortly after 6 a.m., in the southbound lanes of the turnpike, spokesman Lt. Roger Reyes said.

Five passengers were ejected from the Chevy Suburban, authorities said. No one in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt, FHP said. The other six passengers were identified as: Shantek Ellis, 17; Elizabeth Codie Lewis, 17; Demitri Johnson, 20; Nolan Browne, 17; Tekhoya Browne, 17, and Jackson Walker, 19. Eugenia Ellis told WSVN her daughter was on life support with a collapsed lung Sunday. Friends grieved outside Broward Medical Center for Oliphant, according to WSVN. "He was somebody who we all respect and love, and he was there for me a lot, and I'm going to miss him," Lamont Walker said. Reyes had no additional details about the crash, which is under investigation.

Chinese drywall not used in area

2009-04-22T06:14:00.000-07:00

The Free Lance-Star is reporting that, Area builders and drywall providers say Chinese-made drywall has not been used in Fredericksburg-area houses.

Chinese drywall has been making national news of late after hundreds of U.S. homeowners have complained that it smells and emits gasses that make people sick. Most of the claims have been filed in Florida and New Orleans. Homebuilder Lennar Corp., which is building homes in Spotsylvania County's Lee's Parke subdivision, disclosed Monday that it has been named in a class-action lawsuit filed in Florida on behalf of people who bought homes with Chinese drywall that were built during the boom.

Bob Krieff, division president for Lennar in Virginia, said Chinese drywall has not been used in any of Lennar's Virginia homes. He said it appears to be a Florida-only problem for Lennar. In Florida, Lennar has been inspecting homes it built that might have had the Chinese drywall and paying to replace it. Lennar sued the Chinese drywall manufacturer and distributors. Florida's health department has said it will begin testing the air quality in homes to determine whether the material can make people ill. Estimates indicate the drywall may be in more than 100,000 homes, more than 35,000 in Florida alone.

Harvey Gold, director of government affairs for the Fredericksburg Area Builders Association, said none of the association's builders he's checked with have reported using the Chinese drywall. He's also checked with local governments, and no problems have been reported. Executives for Ashton Innovations and Chatham Construction Co. Inc., which are two of the Fredericksburg area's bigger drywall installers, both said they do not and have not used Chinese drywall.

The Attorneys at Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. are offering FREE consultations to residents of Florida in all matters relating to Chinese drywall. If you believe your home and health may be at risk, please contact us immediately to protect your legal rights.

--The Associated Press contributed to this report.

3-month-old baby dies in Clearwater traffic crash

2009-04-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A 3-month-old boy who was ejected from his car seat during a two-vehicle crash has died.

The crash happened shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday. Clearwater police said the infant's mother, 19-year-old Priscilla Baltazar, was driving a Honda in a curb lane when she was hit by an SUV.
Her infant, Alden Perez, was ejected from his car seat and died at a local hospital. Officials said Baltazar and a 3-year-old child received minor injuries.
So far, no charges have been filed.

If you have been injured in a traffic accident, or if you have a loved one injured, the traffic accident attorneys at Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today

Pedestrian, bicyclist killed in separate accidents west of Boca Raton

2009-04-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

Accoding to the Sun Sentinel WEST BOCA - Two people involved in traffic accidents on roads west of Boca Raton earlier this month have died from their injuries.Kevin Grant, 36, died Friday after being struck by a car as he stood on Dolphin Road on April 4, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office report. As Robert Hebert turned his 2001 Hyundai sedan onto Dolphin Road from Sandalfoot Boulevard his vehicle's side mirror struck Grant in the back of the head, the report states. Grant died Friday at Delray Medical Center. Grant and Hebert, 58, both are of the 10100 block of Marlin Drive.Bicyclist Timothy Williams died Sunday after being struck Saturday by a 2003 Dodge SUV driven by Miami resident Candice Curl, 36. Williams, 35, of west of Boca Raton, pedaled his Magna bike eastbound on Camino Real when Curl's SUV, also eastbound on Camino Real, struck Williams as he entered the intersection of Camino Del Mar, according to the report. Williams was pronounced dead at Delray Medical Center.
If you have been injured in a traffic accident, or if you have a loved one injured, the traffic accident attorneys at Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today.

5 killed, 7 hurt when boat slams into tug near St. Augustine

2009-04-13T06:22:00.000-07:00

Sun Sentinel; PALM VALLEY, Fla. - Authorities were investigating Monday why a power boat packed with 12 people slammed into a docked tug boat, killing five occupants of the pleasure craft and seriously injuring 12.The 22-foot power boat crashed into the rear of the tug at about 7 p.m. Sunday on the Intracoastal Waterway in St. Johns County, about 20 miles northwest of St. Augustine, said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman Joy Hill. The Intracoastal Waterway runs along Florida's east coastline.Three of the injured were airlifted from the crash site and all seven were taken to area hospitals, she said.Hill was not sure whether those on the Crownline boat were tossed into the water during the crash.

She said it doesn't appear anyone was aboard the 25-foot tug boat, which is registered to F&A Enterprises in St. Augustine.The victims names have not been released."Investigators are looking at anything that may have caused this," Hill said, including the speed and capacity of the boat, lighting conditions and whether alcohol may have been a factor.The boat was carrying 12 people, according to Jeremy Robshaw of the St. Johns County Fire and Rescue. He told The Florida Times-Union newspaper that three of those injured were in critical condition, with the others in stable condition.Robshaw said the pier was under construction and rescuers had to lay down planking before they could get to the crash victims.Herb Davis watched the rescue from the dock at his home down the street."There was a lot of moaning," he told the newspaper. "It was very clear, this lady was screaming so loud," he said.

If you are injured while boating, traveling on a cruise line, on a yacht, or simply offshore, the laws can get complicated very quickly. The laws governing your injuries and your potential remedies depend upon who you are, where you were, and what you were doing at the time of the accident.

The maritime lawyers at the law firm of Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. have extensive experience in litigating maritime cases in almost every major port in the United States as well as internationally.

Trooper hit during traffic stop

2009-04-10T06:37:00.000-07:00

DEBARY, Fla. — According to the Palm Beach Post Authorities say a Florida Highway Patrol trooper was seriously injured when a vehicle hit him during a traffic stop on Interstate 4 near DeBary.
An FHP spokeswoman says Trooper Rickie Zigler was standing on the shoulder after pulling over a sport utility vehicle Thursday afternoon driven by Luz Roman, who called 911 dispatchers for help with a domestic disturbance. Another vehicle driven by 78-year-old Donola White lost control and hit the SUV, causing it to hit the trooper.
Zigler was taken by helicopter to a Daytona Beach hospital with a broken pelvis and wrist. Roman was taken to a Sanford hospital with minor injuries. White, who had to be removed from the car, was taken by helicopter to an Orlando hospital and was in critical but stable condition.
If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, the auto accident attorneys at Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today.

Local city to soon add red-light runner cameras

2009-04-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

CBS new 12 reported on the new driving conditions in West Palm Beach. Worried that the problem is only going to get worse, police say something has to be done about nabbing red-light runners."We think that a lot of people are running red lights. We don't have the personnel especially in today's budget situation to monitor them all the time," said Assistant West Palm Beach Police Chief Dennis Crispo.

City commissioners are considering a contract with an outside firm that would install and maintain the cameras and send tickets to violators. The fine would be $125.
West Palm Beach Police have identified ten intersections with the highest number of accidents.
Those intersections, such as 45th and Congress, will get cameras to videotape drivers who race through when the light changes to red. Drivers will get a ticket in the mail, and will have to pay a fine. They can even go to a website and see video of their car running a red light, if they don't recall the incident or want to make sure the city really does have them on camera.
Motorists we talked with say they don't have a problem with the plan to install red-light runner cameras.

"In south Florida, they gun it and run it instead of trying to stop, Absolutely. I think it's a great idea," said Mike Lewis, motorist. "I do think that running red lights is very dangerous. So I think probably the city has a right to do that if it is a real safety problem for the citizens," said Anne Pepper, another motorist. Crispo says the cameras would be installed in about three months.

Auto accidents are the most common basis for personal injury claims brought in the United States. When a person is careless in the operation of their vehicle, they are liable to all individuals who are injured as a result. In determining whether or not a driver was negligent, several factors are considered:

The driver’s speed
The weather conditions at the time of the accident
Any failure to obey traffic signals or signs
Any failure to follow proper procedures in operating the vehicle
Whether or not the driver was under the influence of any alcohol or drugs

The law provides a limited time period for you to bring an automobile accident claim. If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, contact Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. today. We will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today.

Motorcyclist dies after accident with Palm Tran bus in northern Palm Beach County

2009-04-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

Palm Beach Post reports today, Portions of County Line Road in northern Palm Beach County remained closed past 4:30 p.m. today after a motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a Palm Tran connection bus.

Authorities identified the motorcyclist as Stephen Charles Trapani, 68, of Tequesta.
Trapani was on a motorcycle by himself heading east on County Line Road just north of Tequesta near the Martin County line when he struck the front of the bus at 1:39 p.m., Palm Beach County Sherriff’s investigator Karly Gallart said. The bus was headed west and turning left onto Old Dixie Highway when the motorcycle collided, smashing the bus windshield on the driver's side. The driver and lone passenger on the bus were not injured.

Trapani, who was not wearing a helmet, was killed instantly, Gallart said.

Auto accidents are the most common basis for personal injury claims brought in the United States. When a person is careless in the operation of their vehicle, they are liable to all individuals who are injured as a result. The law provides a limited time period for you to bring an automobile accident claim. If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, contact Ellis, Ged & Bodden today. We will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today.

Good Counsel: Local Attorney Making A Positive Impact

2009-04-02T06:32:00.000-07:00

The Boca Raton Observer featured Attorney Ronda L. Ellis in their April 2009 Issue. This special edition honored women in business. Congratulations Ronda.

Victim in wrong-way crash on I-95 was immigrant seeking better life in America

2009-03-31T05:45:00.000-07:00

The sun sentinel recently posted an update on the accident that occurred on Friday: Her life ended on Interstate 95 just months after she arrived in South Florida to help her family abroad. Aracely Mendoza moved from Nicaragua in October for better job opportunities. The 23-year-old settled in Miami, found a service job and sent nearly all her earnings to her family, her friends said. "She was a good person — very moral," said one friend, Milbia Matamoros.

In the early hours last Friday, Mendoza was killed in a head-on wreck on Interstate 95 in Broward County that was caused by a car going in the wrong direction, the Florida Highway Patrol said Monday. Mendoza — the sole person who died in the crash — was a passenger in a white 2005 Ford van headed south at about 4:18 a.m. Near Commercial Boulevard, a silver 2003 BMW struck the van, shredding the BMW's front half and tearing into the front passenger side of the van, the FHP said. FHP Lt. Gene Hingson said evidence at the crash site and witnesses confirmed the BMW was traveling north in the southbound lanes.

No one has been charged in the crash. FHP investigators are waiting to obtain toxicology results of the BMW's driver, Davydson Soares, 31, of Pompano Beach, to determine whether he was driving under the influence, Hingson said. Soares was treated and released from Broward General Medical Center on Friday. He couldn't be reached for comment despite a visit to his home Monday.

State records show Soares has a suspended license for failure to pay traffic fines. On March 22, Miami Beach police charged him with the misdemeanor crime of disorderly conduct. He told authorities he was a chiropractor, records show.

The van's driver, Elba Matamoros, 39, and two passengers, Tonya Carrera, 24, and Ruby Castenerra, 29, were treated and released from Broward General Medical Center Friday. They all live in Miami. Elba Matamoros, Milbia Matamoros' sister, said Monday that friends were trying to raise about $5,000 to pay for Mendoza's body to be returned to her homeland.

Matamoros said someone must be held accountable for Mendoza's death. "I want justice," she said.

The law provides a limited time period for you to bring an automobile accident claim. If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, contact Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. today. We will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today.

Woman killed while walking in Southwest Miami-Dade

2009-03-30T05:39:00.000-07:00

The Miami Hearld is reported on a hit and run accident, A pedestrian died Sunday after what appeared to be a hit-and-run accident in Southwest Miami-Dade. A car struck the woman at about 3:30 p.m. near Southwest 157th Avenue and 289th Terrace, Miami-Dade police said.

The vehicle left the scene, police said, and headed north on 157th Avenue. The woman was airlifted to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she died. Investigators later interviewed a suspect who was found near the scene. No names were released.

The key to filing a wrongful death lawsuit is determining that another party was negligent. This means that someone else failed to act in a reasonable, responsible way and that their action or inaction caused your injury. At the law firm of Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A., we can help you explore your legal options. We offer free consultations, and can meet with you at home, at work or even in your hospital room. We’ll listen to your concerns and tell you how we can help. You need to have a team on your side, to protect your interests. If a loved one has been killed or if you have been injured as a result of someone’s negligence, please contact our wrongful death lawyers today.

2009-03-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

The Miami Herald reported that a Miami woman was killed Friday morning in a head-on collision between a van and a BMW in the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 near Commercial Boulevard, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Four others were seriously injured in the crash, which led authorities to close the highway just north of Commercial Boulevard during the peak morning hours as they conducted an investigation. The roadway has since opened, said FHP spokesman Sgt. Mark Wysocky.

The woman who died was identified as 23-year-old Aracely Mendoza. Wysocky said details are still sketchy, but it appears the crash happened about 4:18 a.m.''We're still trying to determine what happened, whether someone was driving the wrong way or whether someone had spun out and then was facing the wrong way,'' he said.According to Wysocky, a man driving the BMW was taken to Broward General Medical Center in serious condition. Three other women in the van were taken to the same hospital, one in critical condition and two in serious condition.

The law provides a limited time period for you to bring an automobile accident claim. If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, contact Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. today. We will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today.

Driver caused I-95 hit-run crashes, officials say

2009-03-25T06:53:00.000-07:00

The sun sentinel.com is reporting that, A West Palm Beach driver could face charges in a spree of hit-and-run crashes on Interstate 95 in Broward County that injured a Davie woman, the Florida Highway Patrol said Tuesday.

Michele M. Fevola, 33, was involved in four crashes on I-95 that began at about 8 p.m. Monday in Deerfield Beach and ended minutes later in Fort Lauderdale, said FHP spokesman Sgt. Mark Wysocky. Troopers are awaiting toxicology results to determine whether Fevola was driving drunk, Wysocky said. The woman hurt in one of the crashes, Marisol Montellano, 21, was taken to Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, where she was in good condition Tuesday, hospital spokeswoman Candice Ogden said. Fevola's 2002 Chevrolet pickup rear-ended a 2008 Lexus, then struck a 1994 Toyota before hitting Montellano's 2004 Isuzu SUV near Sunrise Boulevard, FHP said. Fevola lost control of her pickup, veered left and was struck by a 2009 Toyota, Wysocky said. Fevola was taken to Broward General, where she was treated and released, Ogden said. The drivers of the other vehicles were unhurt.

Fevola has had several run-ins with the law, state records show. She was convicted of driving under the influence in Broward in July 2001, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records show. Another DUI case the same year resulted in her license being revoked for five years.Her license was suspended this year for failing to pay a traffic citation, but it was reinstated last month, records show.

Auto accidents are the most common basis for personal injury claims brought in the United States. When a person is careless in the operation of their vehicle, they are liable to all individuals who are injured as a result. The law provides a limited time period for you to bring an automobile accident claim. If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, contact Ellis, Ged & Bodden today. We will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today.

What Caused the Montana Plane Crash?

2009-03-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

Butte, MT: While there have been conflicting reports surrounding the number of people killed Sunday afternoon in the horrific plane crash in Montana, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that 14 people were killed.

Previous reports, including one that ran in the early edition of the New York Times this morning, suggested that anywhere from 14 to 17 people were on board. The latter observation came from an aircraft mechanic who was on duty at the airport in Oroville. He suggested that he let as many as a dozen children from the plane use the restroom at the facility, which was the last stop the single-engine turboprop plane made before it crashed 3 hours later into a cemetery in Montana. According to the New York Times an FAA spokesperson suggested also that 14 to 17 people were on board the plane, but as of a few minutes ago all the major media outlets appeared to have settled on a death toll of 14—7 adults and 7 children. There were no survivors.

The plane crash occurred Sunday at 3:26pm Mountain time. Eyewitnesses report seeing the plane wobble in the sky, and one witness noted that the plane was banked in a 90-degree vertical roll, with one wing pointing straight up, before the plane plunged nose-first into a wooded area of Holy Cross Cemetery and burst into flames. According to various reports the plane was leased by a number of families who shared a vacation property, and was presumably shuttling the passengers to a ski vacation. The flight is said to have originated in Redlands, California and had flown to Vacaville, where it remained on the ground for just under an hour. It is not known if the plane took on fuel at the time. From there, the Pilatus PC-12 took off for the short hop to Oroville, about 65 miles north of Sacramento. The plane took on no fuel at Oroville. It is here that many of the passengers exited the plane to stretch their legs and use the facilities. It was about 11am Pacific Time when the plane took off from Oroville for the presumed final leg of the journey, to Gallatin Field at Bozeman, Montana.

The latter is about a dozen miles from the Bridger Bowl Ski Area in the Gallatin Mountains. However, the plane never made it to Bozeman. At one point the pilot abruptly abandoned his flight plan and diverted to Butte, about 75 miles west of Bozeman and closer. Why the pilot diverted may never be known. As the plane was a leased plane on a private flight and not a commercial enterprise, there was no black box on board monitoring the comments of the pilot. There is also no communications tower at Bert Mooney Airport at Butte, which is more of a self-serve facility with even self-serve fuelling capability. Speculation, however suggests that when the pilot abandoned his flight plan and diverted to a closer airport, the need to land promptly was paramount. But why? Was there a sudden mechanical problem with the plane? Was the pilot low on fuel?

There are many questions, many of which will hopefully be answered by the FAA with an assist by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). One factor being looked at is the weight borne by the single-engine Pilatus PC-12, an aircraft built in Sweden and approved for civil aviation in the US in 1994. Specs for the aircraft cite a capacity for 9 or 10 passengers in some commercial configurations, although the specific plane that crashed yesterday afternoon was said to have approved seating for 12. However, even the most conservative estimate of 14 passengers, represents 2 more people than the plane was reported to be rated for. That also suggests that, given speculation of a vacation, there would be luggage for two additional people as well. Aviation experts agree that an aircraft is rated for number of passengers, and weight for specific reasons. A plane will handle differently and presumably burn more fuel if overloaded. And the sudden shifting of weight, whether the shift represents passengers suddenly changing their seat assignments, or the sudden shifting of gross weight such as luggage, could all have an impact on how the plane behaves in the air.

The specific Pilatus PC-12 did not appear to have any prior maintenance or safety issues. However, the New York Times was reporting this morning that according to the NTSB there have been 15 accidents involving Pilatus planes since 2001, six of which involving fatalities. There have also been reports that transportation authorities had put the Pilatus on watch for some ongoing issue with regard to the Pilatus engine. According to the FAA the doomed plane was registered to Eagle Cap Leasing of Enterprise, Oregon. It was not immediately known if the plane came with a pilot, or if someone else flew the plane. NBC was reporting this morning that five members from one family were killed when the plane went down.

Eyewitnesses who saw the crash ran over to the crash scene immediately after the crash, but by then the fire was raging and there was nothing anyone on the ground could do. There were no injuries to people on the ground. Investigators report the fire burned for about five or ten minutes, and that rescue crews were on the scene within minutes. The doomed plane crashed just 500 feet west of the runway at Bert Mooney Airfield at Butte. It is the third major plane crash in the US, in as many months.

If you or your loved ones were involved in a plane crash accident the Florida airplane accident attorneys can help you. Please contact our Boca Raton office at 561-9951966 or 1888 EGB FIRM.