Pearson crash suits to merge

Lawyers heading two class- action lawsuits filed after the Aug. 2 Air France jet crash at Pearson International Airport are expected to reach a deal this week that will see both claims combined.

“ We are close to getting a deal done,” said Paul Miller, a lawyer with Torontobased Will Barristers, who is seeking damages of $325 million.

“ We’ll have that finalized with the other class probably late this week.” The claim being led by Miller was filed Aug. 5. Three days later, Toronto lawyer Glyn Hotz followed with a $ 150 million class action, which has since gained the backing of high- profile lawyers Harvey Strosberg and J. J. Camp. Both groups allege that Air France and the Greater Toronto Airport Authority were negligent in the crash of the Airbus A340, which skidded off a runway and became engulfed in flames. An investigation by the Toronto Star, published yesterday, found that the accident could have been avoided if simple safety measures used at many U. S. airports were implemented.

Experts concluded the Pearson runway involved in the accident — runway 24L — should be longer and have special grooves that give better traction during wet conditions. The Star also concluded the multimilliondollar Air France jet could have been saved had the runway been built with “ crushable concrete” that significantly slows runaway planes.

So-called Engineered Material Arresting Systems, or EMAS, are used today at 18 U. S. airports with no reported problems. The GTAA, which has controlled Pearson’s operations since 1996, did not return calls yesterday. No one was killed in the Flight 358 crash, but Air France has offered compensation to all 297 passengers.