Date: 12-19-2005

Case Style: Captain Randall Otto v. North American Airlines

Case Number: RG 03129400

Judge: Robert B. Freedman

Court: Superior Court, Alameda County, California

Plaintiff's Attorney:

Patrick E. Bailey of Bailey & Partners, Santa Monica, California

Ned Good of Good, West & Schuetze, Pasadena, California

Defendant's Attorney:

Scott J. Scheper and Scott A. Miller of Seltzer, Caplan, McMahon, Vitek, San Diego, California

Description: Captain Randall Otto sued North American Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of World Air Holdings, Inc., for wrongful termination claiming that he was fired for blowing the whistle on the airline's unsafe maintenance practices. Otto, had an impeccable safety record as a U.S. Air Force Command Pilot, with over 1000 hours flown in Desert Storm. He was suspened from work after reporting what he believed to be a serious safety violation involving illegal dispatches of a Boeing 757 with unresolved flight control problems. He was later fired.

The defenses asserted by the defendant are not available.

Outcome: Plaintiff's verdict $5,576,348 in compensatory damages and $7,000,000 in punitive damages.

Plaintiff's Experts: Peter Formuzis, Ph.D. (Economics), Marcia Haight (Human Resources), Barry Schiff (Pilot Expert); Don Llorente (NTSB expert); Bruce Aubin (Airline Maintenance Operations)

Defendant's Experts: Wolfgang Glende (Airplane Design Expert)

Comments: None