Newsstand - 800 Ozzies sue a bunch of airlines over blood clot deaths - class action

800 Ozzies sue a bunch of airlines over blood clot deaths - class action


Blood clot claimants plan to sue airlines

Almost 800 Australians and a small number of New Zealanders
have lodged compensation claims with a Melbourne legal firm over
deaths and injuries potentially resulting from the so-called airline
"economy-class syndrome".

Of the claimants, 36 involve deaths that could be linked to the
disorder, known medically as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which
results in blood clots forming in the systems of passengers that
eventually lodge in vital organs causing death or injury.

www.smh.com.au/news/0101/09/pageone/pageone7.html (http://www.smh.com.au/news/0101/09/pageone/pageone7.html)

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~ Glen ~

Does anyone know of a similar pending suit in the U.S. or the U.K. ??

SPIDER - That was my thought when I posted this, that there MUST be a few 100 class actions in train already in the USA, and DOC or someone else would kindly link the 50 applicable threads.

Makes me sad that our lawyers have adopted this litigious USA style stuff, and indeed in this case even outdo the USA.

The lead laywer was on TV last night. Qantas correctly pointed out in every eidition of their in-flight magazine has had for some YEARS 2 pages of bumpf and info on the need for exercise and walking about or standing and moving a little etc on long flights.

The lawyer said - "that makes their case weaker - how DARE they bury this stuff on page 27 of each magazine". http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

Next time I get a traffic fine maybe I can use the argument, "how dare the goverment bury this exact offence of page 5643 of the traffic code"

!

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~ Glen ~

I believe a similar suit has been filed in the UK against BA.

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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

"Have you ever broken a nail? Been brushed in a crowd? Heard a loud noise or seen a bright light? You are entitled to compensation for your suffering. Call..."

This message courtesy of the Daily Victim Network.

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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

Glen, I heard a Qantas employee mention to me the other day (privately, off duty) that in response to this suit QF will be introducing beds in biz. Have you or anyone else heard this?

Jon, This Victim Network ad seemed so funny to me that I had a good chuckle. Thanks! You wouldn't have their webpage address for further humor?

Sorry Spider, no such website exists - although it certainly should. Stupidlawyertricks.com perhaps?

In the meantime, consider The Onion.

http://www.theonion.com

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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

As a result BA is now handing out leaflets to pax as they board in order to forewarn them! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Qantas is also handing out pamphlets! But what about people who can't read English?? Another oversight?

People who don't speak English can't pronounce DVT, and therefore can't get it.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/0101/11/pageone/pageone6.html


Qantas and Ansett-Air New Zealand will print tickets with warnings to passengers about the dangers of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) on international and domestic flights amid growing concern that airlines are dealing with a major health problem.

As airlines around the world brace for a round of multi-million dollar lawsuits from relatives of passengers who have died of DVT, Qantas officials confirmed last night that passengers would be warned when they bought tickets and later on inflight videos.

New tickets with brief warnings would be introduced within two months. Ansett-Air New Zealand is planning a similar strategy including messages on company Web sites, information pamphlets issued with tickets and an inflight video.

The warning would also be included on tickets for long domestic flights, such as Sydney to Perth.

The surprise change in attitude came as reports emerged from Britain that DVT was costing as many as 2,000 lives a year.



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~ Glen ~

I don't think that putting up warnings is enough. Cigarette packs have plenty of warnings and yet people get multi million dollar compensation awards from tobacco companies. Seems like this will be the same with airlines.

RichG: Good one!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif although some narrow minded people might interpret your comments as racist.

[This message has been edited by Spider (edited 01-11-2001).]

spider: Someone would have to be not only narrow-minded but a complete blockhead to interpret my comments as racist.

Fact is, half of the people who do speak English can't pronounce deep vein thrombosis.

By the way, if you take away television, internet access and the Physician's Desk Reference from most hypochondriacs, they suddenly become much healthier. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[Edited by the Department of Redundancy Department to eliminate another redundancy, again.]

[This message has been edited by RichG (edited 01-11-2001).]

half of the people who do speak English can't pronounce deep vein thrombosis.

And I bet Dan Quail/Quayle/Quill can't SPELL it!


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~ Glen ~

Three athletes from the British Olympic team in Sydney were treated for "economy class syndrome" after their long-haul flight, Ananova reported today.

A Queensland surgeon claims he saw the athletes on their arrival on the Gold Coast where they were taking part in pre-competition training, the report says.

Dr David Grosser has refused to name them but said it shows that even the most fit and healthy people can be affected by deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

http://news.airwise.com/cgi-bin/story?name=2001/01/979210143.html



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~ Glen ~

Ozstamps:
I'm not surprised that more people are suddenly being afflicted.

After all, there's nothing more lucrative and trendy that to develop the latest disease/condition.

I suspect by June, the number will be in the million (people). Dollar rewards will of course be there long before then.

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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

Originally posted by Jon Toner:
Dollar rewards will of course be there long before then.

Money makes the world spin around! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Who can refuse free money?