Execs Win Car Crash Suit Over Airline’s Sign

A jury in Dallas has awarded $19.6 million to two executives of American Restaurant Group Inc. who were injured three years ago when their car crashed into another vehicle at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

The state court jury returned the verdict against AMR Corp.’s American Airlines after deciding large gate-information signs built by the airline had contributed to the accident.

Anwar Soliman and Ralph Roberts, executives of the Newport Beach restaurant company, were injured when their car rear-ended another vehicle that had stopped in traffic in front of a sign.

Soliman, who suffered a brain injury and nerve damage, and Roberts, who broke his pelvis and suffered facial disfigurement, contended that the first car had stopped so that people inside could read one of the signs. They said American was negligent when it built the signs on the main thoroughfare through the airport.

American argued that the signs offer a valuable service and blamed the accident on driver inattention. “We’re very, very disappointed with the decision,” said Mary Frances Fagan, an airline spokeswoman. She said American, based in Fort Worth, planned to appeal.

The jury ruled American should pay $9.6 million in actual damages and $10 million in punitive damages.