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Deep pocket turbulence threatens DVT airlines - 30/10/01 The Australian
High Court writs are to be issued against two major airlines over alleged cases of air travel-related deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The launch of test cases against Virgin Airlines and British Airways (BA) was likely to lead to "group litigation", or a class action, against many airlines, said Watford-based Collins solicitors, which acts for more than 150 alleged victims of so-called economy class syndrome.
Carriers could reportedly face a compensation bill of more than £10 million ($28.1 million) for allegedly failing to warn British travellers about the dangers of the condition, which may cause potentially lethal blood clots. DVT is believed to affect passengers who are forced to sit in cramped conditions for long hours without exercise.
But scientists are divided over whether there is a link between flying on commercial planes and developing clots. Collins - the firm is expert in transport litigation and recently represented victims of the Southall and Ladbroke Grove train disasters - will issue writs on behalf of Lyn Walcott, from Benfleet, Essex, whose husband, Nigel, died in October last year following a BA flight from Barbados to London Gatwick, and Peter Wilson, of Harpenden, Hertfordshire, who developed DVT following a Virgin flight from Hong Kong to London Heathrow in October 1998.
Senior partner Des Collins said: "Immediately following issue and service of proceedings in these test cases we will ask the court to put in place a group litigation order so that all legal issues surrounding air travel and DVT can be resolved. "Untold numbers of people have seen their lives badly affected or very often ruined as a result of this problem. We have to resolve it as soon as possible."
In Australia, 2700 passengers are seeking damages from airlines after suffering blood clots. A BA spokeswoman said: "We have only received pre-action correspondence from Collins solicitors at this stage; we have not received a formal claim. "Until we have received it, we won't be commenting specifically on that. "We would like to reassure the travelling public that BA takes the health and safety of its passengers extremely seriously.
"The fact is that there is no conclusive evidence to link DVT with flying per se, however we know that it is linked with long periods of immobility, and that can be on a train or any other form of transport." |
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