Cook County Judge Enters Second Order Today in Petition Regarding Malaysia Airlines

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Kathy M. Flanagan entered a second order today (Monday, March 31, 2014) dismissing a Petition for Discovery against Chicago-based Boeing Company and Malaysian Airlines. The initial dismissal order explained the impropriety of a Chicago law firm filing the action under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 224. Today’s second order explains her position on the possibility of ordering sanctions against the Chicago law firm. She explained that because service of the order in the action took place today, “commencing today, the Court will impose sanctions on the law firm if there are any other unfounded filings of Supreme Court Rule 224 petitions. Judge Flanagan also is the judge who dismissed two similar petitions last year filed by the same Chicago law firm. Judge Flanagan, Supervising Judge of the Motions Section of the Law Division in the Circuit Court of Cook County, is assigned all aviation cases. Robert A. Clifford, veteran aviation attorney who has handled numerous international and national aviation crashes, has been speaking out the past week against the “premature filings” by the law firm in Chicago in aviation cases.