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"...These lawyers, as an example, are marvelous people. They are dedicated and they are very, very skilled, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to deal with them...I think that the parties have all...received the very best professional help and advice."
Judge David V. Kenyon, U.S. District Court, S.D.CA
In Re: Aircrash Disaster near Cerritos, California,
August 31, 1986 (MDL No. 717)
(Joseph T. Cook, Plaintiffs' Steering Committee)
Every day hundreds of thousands of air travelers place their confidence and trust in the aviation industry. Generally, their flights are without incident. But when a crash occurs, the consequences can be tragic. What can injured passengers - or their bereaved families - do to recover their losses? How can they assess a "value" on their loss? What can they do to begin to put their lives and livelihoods back together? What are their rights? At times like this, it is important to know about Speiser Krause.
Speiser Krause was founded in New York over forty-five years ago by Stuart Speiser, one of the nation's first attorneys to specialize in the field of aviation litigation. In 1955 our firm earned the prestigious "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a distinction it has retained ever since.
Since its inception, our firm, both on its own and as lead counsel or co-counsel with other law firms, has successfully handled thousands of plaintiff cases arising from major disasters. We also pioneered group handling of mass disaster lawsuits in aviation, resulting in a smoother, more efficient litigation process - at a lower cost to our clients - and larger recoveries for claimants. A few examples are: the Eastern Airlines Lockheed L-1011 in the Florida Everglades, 1972; the Turkish Airlines DC-10 Crash at Ermonville, France, 1974; the Pan Am-KLM 747 Collision at Tenerife, Canary Islands, 1977; the Korean Airlines 747 Shoot-Down in the Sea of Japan, 1983; the Pan Am 747 Bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, 1988; the TWA 800-Boeing 747 explosion off the Coast of Long Island, NY, 1996; the Swissair MD-11 tragedy in the Atlantic Ocean off Nova Scotia of September 2, 1998; and the litigation arising out of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We have used this same approach with other multi-plaintiff litigation cases, including admiralty and oil rig disasters, hotel fires, rail accidents and other catastrophic occurrences.
In addition to our many years of legal experience, our partners have piloting and technical expertise. This specialized knowledge and experience has helped Speiser Krause become the leader in its field and the nations largest firm of pilot-lawyers.
"As I've thought about this note, I've been stymied by the lack of words that will tell you how deeply grateful I am to the Granito Team... You brought joy into what otherwise would have been a barren and sorrow-filled time for me. You have become trusted and dear friends that I will treasure from here on in... The dedication to our cause and that of all the PAN AM 103 families is apparent in every word you speak and in all your actions... God is really good to have sent you to us and us to you..."
Letter to Frank H. Granito, Jr. and Frank H. Granito, III, from a mother who lost her son in the Pan Am 103 Lockerbie Air Disaster.
"I wish to thank you for the conscientious effort and congratulate you for the successful handling of the MEA suit. I am grateful for the interest and confidence exhibited by you throughout. May I say it contributed greatly to personal comfort in a time of stress. This satisfactory settlement is quite worthy of praise - and I want you to know I am most appreciative for all achieved in an expeditious manner."
Letter to Charles F. Krause from a client who lost her husband in the Middle Eastern Airlines crash in the Mediterranean.
"There is no easy way to go through this ordeal, but because of people like you and Rina-and many others-I believe God is holding us in the palm of His hand."
Letter to Gerard R. Lear from wife of a federal worker who died as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals.
"Life, I am quite sure you well know, has a way of making people bitter and cynical - I am no exception. Because of your impeccable honesty and integrity, your sincere kindness and generosity, you have done a great deal to restore my faith in human nature. Because of you, for once in a very long time, I feel my dignity restored in me.
I can never adequately thank you for your kindness and understanding and all the work you have done on my behalf. Perhaps Emerson was right when he said, "I didn't find my friends, the good God gave them to me."
A letter to Kenneth P. Nolan from a woman severely injured in an automobile accident.
"You will probably never know me, Mr. Krause, and under ordinary
circumstances, I doubt I would've ever heard of Speiser Krause.
Unfortunately, my circumstances aren't so ordinary, and I know more about
Speiser Krause than an everyday person like myself ever should. Last
Christmas, my husband had an awful bike accident...his six-week-old bike
collapsed underneath him, leaving him with injuries that would require
him to have metal plates placed in his head. I believe in God, and I
believe that there is a purpose for everything that happens to us, but I
cannot understand why my husband deserved this awful fate. I've tried
for nearly a year to understand the purpose of this tragedy and
constantly come up with nothing. I will never understand why my family
was forced to endure such a tragedy...at Christmas of all times...but I
do know that I could not have gotten through this without the kindness of
Dan Barks and Leigh Ballen. I don't know how it is that these two
gentlemen ended up at your law firm, but I do know that my life will
never be the same because of them. At the lowest point in my life Dan
and Leigh have been there for me, as friends and as damn good attorneys,
too. When I go to sleep at night, I pray for Dan and Leigh in the same
way as I do the rest of my family...that must tell you how important they
are to me. My purpose of this email is just to let you know that you
have two exceptional people on your team, and my heart nearly bursts when
I think of the positive impact they have had in my life. Because of
them, I will never be the same, and I just wanted you to know."
Letter to Charles F. Krause from wife of client who was injured when
the bike he was riding collapsed.
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