Families of 737 Max crash victims’ attorneys seek to halt Boeing plea deal in court

Lawyers representing the families of victims in Boeing 737 Max crashes have urged a federal judge to dismiss a plea deal between Boeing and U.S. prosecutors, claiming that the agreement is too lenient and fails to hold Boeing accountable for the 346 lives lost. They suggested that Boeing received favorable treatment due to its significant government contracts.

Boeing reached an agreement on July 7 to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud to resolve allegations of deceiving FAA regulators during the approval process for the 737 Max. The recent deal includes a fine of at least $243.6 million, an investment of $455 million in compliance and safety programs, and a probation period of three years, overseen by a court-appointed monitor.

Judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, has the authority to approve or reject the plea agreement. The lawyers representing the families of crash victims have requested a jury trial within 70 days instead, asserting that the court, rather than the involved parties, should determine an appropriate sentence to ensure public confidence in the outcome.

In a motion filed by one of the attorneys, it was noted that information implicating Boeing in additional wrongdoing was submitted under seal as part of civil lawsuits against the company. Some lawyers argued that the Justice Department’s handling of the case favored Boeing over the families affected by the crashes.

The lawyers also criticized the allegedly inadequate size of Boeing’s fine and argued that the selection of the compliance monitor should be determined by the court, not the Justice Department. Boeing chose not to comment on the matter, and both the company and the Justice Department have two weeks to respond to the families’ filings.