Ruling a victory for 3407 families
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BUFFALO, N.Y. — Families of victims of the crash of Flight 3407 will be able to sue the flight's operator for unlimited punitive damages.
A federal judge in Buffalo ruled Monday that New York state law, where the plane crashed in 2009, will be applied in the families' wrongful death lawsuits. That’s in lieu of Virginia law, where flight operator Colgan Air was based.
The decision affects the families’ ability to sue for punitive damages, because New York state has no limit on damage awards. Virginia law caps damage awards at $350,000.
Trials in the wrongful death lawsuits are set to begin next year.