A damages trial arising from the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash begins January 12, 2026, in federal court in Chicago, with Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, serving as lead counsel for the plaintiff. Manant Vaidya of Canada lost his parents and sister when the Boeing 737 MAX8 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia on March 10, 2019. The flight, heading to Kenya, went down just minutes after takeoff, killing all 157 people on board from 35 countries.
“This family has waited nearly seven years to see justice, and that is our goal in this trial,” Clifford said, noting that Boeing has already accepted responsibility for the tragedy and that the jury must now determine the full extent of the losses suffered.
“It is now up to a jury to determine just how devastating these losses are through the only way the civil justice system is able — monetary damages to hold the giant corporation accountable.”
Clifford Law Offices has represented victims and their families in every major commercial airline crash in the United States over the past 40+ years, as well as numerous small aircraft tragedies nationwide. The firm currently represents the families of 74 victims of the Boeing 737 MAX8 crash in Ethiopia, with Robert Clifford serving as lead counsel in the high-profile federal litigation in Chicago. Many of these cases have already reached confidential resolutions.
Decades of Aviation Litigation Experience
Clifford Law Offices has represented victims and their families in nearly every major commercial airline crash in the U.S. in the last 40 years as well as numerous small plane crashes around the United States.
For media inquiries, please contact our Communications Partner, Pamela Sakowicz Menaker, at 847-721-0909.
Press Releases
January 14, 2026
Cases Settle in 11th Hour Against Boeing for Family Killed in Boeing Crash. View Online.
January 11, 2026
Trial Begins Monday, January 12, in Federal Court for Family Killed in Boeing Crash. View Online.
January 7, 2026
Boeing Crash Case Set for Trial Monday with Chicago Powerhouse Lawyers Set to Try the Case in Federal District Court. View Online.
November 13, 2025
Families of Boeing MAX 8 Crash Victims Ask Federal Appellate Court to Overturn District Court Judge’s Order Dismissing Criminal Charge Against Boeing. View Online.
November 6, 2025
Families of Boeing MAX 8 Crash Victims to File Expedited Writ of Mandamus to Federal Appellate Court to Overturn District Court Judge’s Order, Issued Nov. 6, Dismissing Criminal Charge Against Boeing. View Online.
November 5, 2025
Three Cases Settle, One Moves Forward to Trial in the Boeing Crash Cases in Federal District Court. View Online.
November 4, 2025
Jury Selected in First Boeing Crash Trial; Lawyers Expected to Deliver Opening Statements at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5. View Online.
November 4, 2025
Jury Selection Underway on Tuesday, Nov. 4 in Boeing Crash Case with Opening Statements to Follow from Internationally Acclaimed Aviation Attorneys. View Online.
November 2, 2025
Boeing Trial to Begin Monday in Chicago Federal District Court. View Online.
October 30, 2025
Boeing Crash Cases Set for Trial November 3 – Two to be Tried Side-by-Side in Chicago Federal District Court. View Online.
