Aviation Lawyer

[sunk]

Looking for a lawyer around the Calgary area that specializes in aircraft maintenance. Any recommendations?

[North Shore]

Try user: JBI ? He is (or was,) a practicing lawyer, so I'm sure that he'll have some idea of the issues you may face..

[sunk]

Is that the name of the law firm, couldn’t find them on google.

[khedrei]

A member on this forum. You can send him a pm by just typing JBI in the box.

[DHC-1 Jockey]

Is that the name of the law firm, couldn’t find them on google.

His name is James Ball and has advertised on Avcanada before regarding a book he wrote.

https://notaveragelaw.com/lawyer-profiles/James_Ball

[fling_wrench]

Not to pry into anyone specific circumstances, but what scenarios in maintenance would require a lawyer?
Just curious about what's out there, "The more you know"

[JBI]

Is that the name of the law firm, couldn’t find them on google.

His name is James Ball and has advertised on Avcanada before regarding a book he wrote.

https://notaveragelaw.com/lawyer-profiles/James_Ball

Thanks for the mentions. I've touched base with the poster through LinkedIn. Although I am a practicing lawyer, the way I've set up my bar registration and liability insurance I'm not able to take on clients other than the volunteer work I do with IFALPA.

As for the book, it's now unfortunately woefully out of date and the publisher is no longer printing new copies (per my request). I'd love to do an update at some point, but with two young kids at home, flying full-time, aging parents etc., I just don't see that happening anytime soon.

[sunk]

Not to pry into anyone specific circumstances, but what scenarios in maintenance would require a lawyer?
Just curious about what's out there, "The more you know"

I had major work done an my aircraft that requires a bunch of warranty work due to the poor workmanship. Going after the shop to get the aircraft brought up to standards. I want it to go to a third party as I as don’t trust the shop to do the correct repairs.

[SeptRepair]

...aircraft brought up to standards.

Whose standards? Yours or Airworthiness?

[cdnavater]

...aircraft brought up to standards.

Whose standards? Yours or Airworthiness?

I agree, if the shop in question did not make the repairs to airworthiness standards, that is pretty straightforward, I wouldn’t think a lawyer would be needed!

[khedrei]

I had an argument about maintenance on my Mooney quite a few years back. It wasn't so much quality of work but them doing work I didn't authorize, never even talked about and overall just overcharging. I just wanted it to be over, I asked for work reports and it took forever for them to explain and to figure out where all the hours came from. I told him we needed to meet in the middle of what I expected based on the snag list and his final price or I would simply pay the bill to get my plane back but it would come with a plantifs notice for small claims court.

We settled.

Small claims can go up to 25k in Ontario as far as I know.

Pm me if you'd like. Could be the same place.

[Bede]

Joe Barnsley in Winnipeg does aviation law. Not sure if he's of the Alberta bar.
Not only will you need a lawyer, more importantly you will need an expert witness. An AME who not only is a very experienced (ie credible witness) but also can explain complex aviation related matters to a lay audience (ie a judge).

[sunk]

Most of the items are airworthiness items, some are cosmetic like the paint. I do have expert witnesses and will be getting TC involved as well.

[Bede]

Do NOT get TC involved. If you're claiming that there were airworthiness defects they will ask you why you flew a plane with defects

[khedrei]

How much money are we talking about here? Lawyers are expensive. And your time is worth something. It could be better to come to an agreement and chalk it off to a lesson on which mechanic not to visit.

[5x5]

Do NOT get TC involved. If you're claiming that there were airworthiness defects they will ask you why you flew a plane with defects

Hefty +1 to this! TC are not your friends.

[sunk]

Do NOT get TC involved. If you're claiming that there were airworthiness defects they will ask you why you flew a plane with defects

These airworthiness items were not found until the aircraft was opened up for a 100 hr inspection.

[sunk]

How much money are we talking about here? Lawyers are expensive. And your time is worth something. It could be better to come to an agreement and chalk it off to a lesson on which mechanic not to visit.

About 100,000

[khedrei]

Ouch. Is that what it will cost you to rectify things with another mechanic? Or is that what you paid him? If it's the former, I can only assume the initial bill is several times that.

I'm really sorry to hear that. Sounds like a lawyer is in order.

[sunk]

Ouch. Is that what it will cost you to rectify things with another mechanic? Or is that what you paid him? If it's the former, I can only assume the initial bill is several times that.

I'm really sorry to hear that. Sounds like a lawyer is in order.

The actual bill was approximately 270,000 and at least 100,000 to fix the screw ups.

[Bede]

Ouch. Yeah lawyer is in order.

What kind of plane?

My dad has to go after a place once that installed a fuel selector in correctly resulting in a forced landing but no damage. (L was both, both was right, right was off, off was left.) He got his money back that he paid them but didn't recover the cost of the AME to inspect the plane following the forced landing.

[Dias]

Ouch. Yeah lawyer is in order.

What kind of plane?

My dad has to go after a place once that installed a fuel selector in correctly resulting in a forced landing but no damage. (L was both, both was right, right was off, off was left.) He got his money back that he paid them but didn't recover the cost of the AME to inspect the plane following the forced landing.

THE PIC IS RESPONSIBLE!!1!