Robert Clifford Talks About Columbia Families Right to sue

Robert A. Clifford was interviewed by the New York Times to comment on whether the families of the astronauts who perished in the Columbia have a right to sue private contractors such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, whose joint venture, United Space Allliance, manages shuttle launchings.

In a story by reporter Adam Liptak ("No Legal Precedent is Seen Should Columbia Families Choose to Sue,"Feb. 6, 2003), Clifford is quoted as saying, "’A credible basis coud easily exist to get around those goverment conractor restrictions in the Boyle case ... and only time will tell whether that is so.’" The story discusses the case arising from the death of Lt. David A. Boyle, a marine whose helicopter plunged into the ocean off Virginia during a training exercise. In a 1988 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on the issue, creating a new defense for government contractors.

Clifford, who was identified by the New York Times as "a Chicago lawyer and expert on aviation law," said it was premature to make definitive judgments.

Clifford has represented people in aviation, transportation and product liability accidents for more than two decades, having been involved in every major commercial airline disaster in this country and often serving as lead counsel or on the steering committee directing the course of the litigation for passengers and their families. He received a $28.2 million verdict for a 70-year-old woman who survived the crash of flight 232 after it cartwheeled down in the runway in Sioux City, Iowa, upon landing.

He was named one of the Top 10 Litigators in Illinois in 1999 by the National Law Journal and one of the Top 10 Litigators in the country in 1993. He most recently was inducted into the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates, a select group of trial attorneys from around the country who share their knowledge, experts, ideas and suggestions with each other to better the practice of law.