Peers Attack Lawyer Who Sued TWA

A prominent aviation attorney was harshly criticized by other lawyers for suing over the TWA Flight 800 explosion before the U.S. government determined what caused the July 17 disaster. Lee Kreindler, lead attorney for plaintiffs in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, had filed two lawsuits on behalf of the family of a husband and wife killed in the explosion against the airline and Boeing Co., the maker of the plane. He said the firms were liable because a mechanical malfunction caused the explosion. Other lawyers advising victims said the lawsuits were premature because no cause was determined. They said there was no legal advantage to filing the case so soon and accused Kreindler of taking the action in an effort to attract more clients.