Local families file suit in crash of Flight 3407

BUFFALO, NY (WIVB) - News 4 has obtained copies of two complaints filed in Federal Court in Buffalo on Tuesday March 24th. Local law firm Hodgson Russ attorneys Hugh Russ lll and Paul Pearlman filed lawsuits on behalf of the families of Darren Tolsma and Ernie West. The two victims were employees of the Northrup Gruman Corporation and were returning home from a business trip when Continental Flight 34-07 crashed in Clarence Center late February 12th, 2009, killing 50 people.

The lawsuits name Colgan Air, Inc.; Bombardier Aerospace Corporation; Pinnacle Airlines Corp.; and Continental Airlines, Inc. The families are looking to recover wrongful death damages, damages for pain and suffering and punitive damages from the defendants.