(WDRB+WAVE/WKYT) — Nearly 30 lawyers appeared in court Monday to argue over access to documents Boeing and other companies provided to the National Transportation Safety Board in the investigation of the crash of UPS Flight 2976 in Louisville as the first anniversary of the crash approaches.
The NTSB has been examining the maintenance and design of a bearing that held the rear of the plane’s left engine to the wing. As part of that work, the agency receives information from the companies involved. Lawyers representing victims want access to what Boeing and other companies turned over to the NTSB.
Lawyers for the victims said the documents would help them search for evidence as they seek compensation on behalf of their clients.
Boeing and the other companies said they cannot meet those demands until the NTSB issues its final ruling. They argue releasing the documents before that point would violate the law.
“Boeing went to the NTSB and asked what their position was,” Christopher Essig, who represents Boeing, said in court Monday. “That’s what the statute says we should do. We have not received a response yet.”
“The defendants are objecting to the production of the information they shared with the NTSB even though we’re approaching the one-year mark,” said Robert Clifford, who represents the victims of the crash.
Judge Eric Haner didn’t issue a ruling from the bench Monday, saying he would need a full hearing to sort out the laws at play. The NTSB could also direct Boeing to release the documents, which could make the court dispute unnecessary.
Haner set a schedule of hearings to work through the issues. Those hearings are set to continue over the next year.