6 East 45th Street             thatcher@thatcher-stone-legal.com

Suite 1801

New York, New York 10017

Telephone 1-646-873-7251              Fax 1-646-873-7259

 

 

 

 

Have You ever been bumped? Denied boarding?

Lost your Luggage? Been stranded at  the airport? Delayed on a multi-leg trip? Missed your cruise ship, safari or other excursion because a plane was late or delayed? Suffered some other horrible experience in which an airline played the principal role? Been stranded, abused, discriminated against?

It’s happening to a lot of Americans, but there is something you can try to do about

it. Don’t just sit there and take it!

 

Know Your Rights. When flights are oversold, U.S. law requires that airlines generally must ask for volunteers, give you a written explanation of your rights at the gate if you are denied boarding, refund your ticket, and if they can’t get you to your destination within two hours of the original arrival time (4 if international), then they owe you all your expenses or must submit to a lawsuit, it’s your choice. 14 CFR 250.  If you win in New York, that generally includes a breach of contract penalty.  Stone v. Continental Airlines. If the carrier delays delivery of or loses your luggage in the U.S. or abroad, they also have to pay. What they offer “volunteers” is never near what you are entitled to, in our experience.

 

 

Call me on my nickel for a free consultation. Most of the cases I take are on contingency.

Maybe you've had to cancel your entire vacation.
It happened to Thatcher Stone. He and his 13-year-old daughter had planned
their traditional Christmas holiday vacation at a ski resort in 2004, where they would rendezvous with old friends. Then, at the boarding gate, they were
unceremoniously bumped by Continental Airlines. The only thing that made it to the ski resort was the family's luggage. They couldn’t even ski somewhere else as a result.  Continental Airlines' mistake was that they bumped a career
aviation attorney. Stone refused the airline's offer of $400 as compensation, sued for breach of contract and won in a landmark case that made headlines
around the world. Continental was forced to reimburse Stone
 for all of his expenses -- around $3,100 -- including  his costs for
 a non-refundable pre-paid stay at the ski lodge and skiing
 equipment for his daughter.

 

WOULD YOU SETTLE FOR

$400 IF YOU LOST $3100?

 

Thatcher A. Stone has more than 20 years of broad experience in the international aviation and cargo industry and has during this time been cited by the International Financial Law Review, Air Finance Journal, Legal Business and Euromoney as one of the world’s leading aviation lawyers.  Thatcher practices in New York City. His clients are all over the country. His case enforcing passenger rights, Stone v. Continental Airlines (NY City Civil Court, 2005), was picked up by hundreds of newspapers around the globe, including the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, the New York Daily News, and earned him interviews on CNN, MSNBC, ABC Radio and Fox. In addition, he frequently teaches Aviation Law at the University of Virginia Law School.  Thatcher is A-V rated by Martindale Hubbell, which is the highest rating they award. Ask a lawyer what this means.

THIS IS ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.

Thatcher A. Stone is Admitted Only in New York State and the United States District Courts in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.

(Most airlines fly in and out of these two districts and so are generally amenable to suit in New York)

However, Thatcher frequently is admitted provisionally in other courts, including for example in California.

 

Past Results Do Not Guarantee A Similar Outcome

 

DISCLAIMER

This web site is for purposes of information and attorney advertising only, and does not constitute legal advice. Prior results do not
guarantee a similar outcome. Any responses to general emailed questions will not establish an attorney-client relationship with
Thatcher Stone. No attorney-client relationship exists without the execution of a retainer agreement. Further, we cannot warrant that all of the information in this web site is current or applicable to you.

THIS WEBPAGE AND CONTENTS COPYRIGHT 2009 by Thatcher A. Stone

 

 

 

There is a similar rule in Europe applicable to European flights and carriers. Call us for a free consultation.

Michael O’Leary of Ryan Air, my hero, cause everyone on his airline gets a great deal and is always treated fairly.

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome

Monday, May 11, 2009