Justice for Samya Stumo: Jury orders Boeing to pay $49.5 million in 737 MAX death

A Chicago jury has awarded $49.5 million in damages to the family of Samya Stumo, a 24-year-old American woman who died in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX crash. After only two hours of deliberation, the jury concluded that Boeing was liable for the significant loss suffered by Stumo’s family.

Key Details of the Case

• The Victim: Samya Stumo was an employee for the NGO ThinkWell and was travelling to Kenya for her first public health assignment when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board.

• A Rare Trial: While Boeing has settled the vast majority of civil claims related to the 737 MAX disasters out of court, Stumo’s family refused to settle, choosing instead to exercise their right to a jury trial.

• Boeing’s Response: Boeing issued a statement expressing deep sympathy for the victims and stated that, although it has settled most claims, it respects the right of families to pursue litigation.

Broader Context: The Ethiopian Airlines tragedy followed the crash of a Lion Air Flight 610 in Indonesia just four months prior. Both involved the Boeing 737 MAX 8. In the aftermath:

• The entire 737 MAX fleet was grounded for nearly two years for safety upgrades.

• Boeing avoided criminal prosecution for misleading regulators by agreeing to a deal involving over $1.1 billion in fines and $445 million in compensation for victims’ families.

• The company was also mandated to overhaul its internal safety and quality control protocols.