83 Asiana Crash Passengers Sue Boeing

　　Eighty-three survivors¹ from fallen Asiana Flight 214 earlier this month, have taken the first step towards suing the plane's manufacturer Boeing.

 

　　A Chinese lawyer says the passengers can file a lawsuit² in China, United States or South Korea.

 

　　However, the amount of compensation will differ in each country.

 

　　CRI.'s Xie Zhao has more.

 

　　It is being reported that a number of lawyers are approaching victims of the Asiana Air Crash, in an effort to help them make a legal claim.

 

　　Zhang Qihuai is a lawyer with the Beijing-based Lanpeng Law firm and Secretary General of Beijing Municipal Lawyers Association.

 

　　The lawyer is now working as legal counsellor for the victims, as invited by the local government of Jiangshan in Zhejiang Province, where the 3 dead Chinese girls from.

 

　　According to the Montreal Convention, Zhang Qihuai says the passengers can file a lawsuit in any three mentioned countries.

 

　　"The Montreal Convention has issued regulations and rules regarding international transportation. China, U.S and South Korea are all the contracting parties."

 

　　So far, a Chicago law firm Ribbeck Law Chartered has been reported to be suing aircraft manufacturer Boeing on behalf of 83-passengers.

 

　　Monica Kelly, a lawyer from the firm, says they have filed a lawsuit against Boeing seeking to identify the different component³ parts of the manufacturers.

 

　　"For example with the seat belts, our passengers told us that they had to use knives in order to remove the seat belt. That will be a component part manufacturer. "

 

　　lawyer Zhang Qihuai says families of the casualties would get compensation of different amount, depending on the country they file the suit.

 

　　"According to the laws in these countries, the amount of personal injury compensation will be determined⁴ by the local per capita income and average salaries in the previous year. "

 

　　Zhang says if a lawsuit is filed in China, the amount of compensation for the deceased passenger is around one million yuan.

 

　　But if the lawsuit is filed in South Korea, according to local law, the amount could range from 3 to 5 million yuan.

 

　　Meanwhile, in the US, the amount of compensation might be as high as ten million U.S dollars.

 

　　In financial terms, these kinds of cases always attract a number of lawyers offering their services, since the payout for both client and law firm can be large, especially in the US.

 

　　For CRI, I'm Xie Zhao.

1 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

2 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

3 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

4 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。