Trending...
- Spokane: SPD Arrest Level III Registered Sex Offender for Failure to Register - 131
- Spokane: PPE Available to Those Returning Home After New Evacuation Downgrades
- Bent Danholm's The Architecture of Demand Reaches No. 2 in Amazon Real Estate Sales
KING COUNTY, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A jury rendered a $3.19 million verdict in favor of the family of Bernice Kekona. The elderly and disabled passenger suffered fatal injuries when she fell down an escalator while in her wheelchair after Alaska Airlines failed to provide gate-to-gate transportation—which had been requested and confirmed five times—to a connecting flight in 2017. The verdict against Alaska was handed down Monday, February 22, 2021 in King County Superior Court.
"Bernice Kekona was the victim of a tragic failure by Alaska to provide basic services between their flights," said Robert Gellatly of Luvera Law Firm, who represented the Kekona family. "Alaska failed Bernice miserably, and the company has continued to wield the legal system like a weapon to blame Bernice, evade responsibility, and undermine her grieving family in the most hurtful ways."
The jury sided with the relatives of 75-year-old Kekona, an amputee and disabled passenger, who was traveling home from Hawaii to Spokane, and had scheduled assistance traveling between gates at the Portland International Airport. When the escorts her family arranged left Kekona alone due to miscommunications between Alaska and its contractor, she attempted to make the trip herself, ultimately falling down 21 steps on an airport escalator in her wheelchair – a horrific incident captured on surveillance video.
More on Washingtoner
Kekona's injuries included trauma to her head and chest and escalator marks on her face, but the most significant was an Achilles tendon injury that led to septic infection. After three months of a painful and ultimately unsuccessful recovery process, doctors finally amputated her remaining leg, and she died the day after the surgery from overwhelming infection.
"Passenger consumers trust that airlines will provide basic services in keeping with safety regulations, and Alaska really dropped the ball in taking simple steps to ensure Mrs. Kekona's well-being," said Brook Cunningham of Randall Danskin, co-counsel for the Kekona family. "We're honored to help hold the airline accountable and ensure safety for other passengers."
The court rejected an earlier move by Alaska to dismiss the case. Throughout legal proceedings, the airline repeatedly tried to lay blame solely on Kekona herself, despite the fact that employees disregarded the family's arrangements and the company's own safety protocols in allowing a disabled septuagenarian to venture off, alone.
More on Washingtoner
In its verdict, the jury found the airline 90 percent responsible for the injuries that led to Kekona's death, which Gellatly said he hopes will bring a measure of closure to the Kekona family.
"For the past four years, this grieving family has asked Alaska for transparency and accountability to ensure this wouldn't happen to another vulnerable passenger," Gellatly said. "We admire this family's bravery in continuing to fight in Mrs. Kekona's memory, and we thank the jury for their time and thoughtfulness in holding Alaska responsible for passenger safety."
About Luvera Law Firm:
Luvera Law Firm is a nationally recognized firm, with high standards of ethical conduct. The firm specializes in medical malpractice, brain injury, death and other major damage cases, and seeks justice for clients as well as positive changes in corporate and governmental behavior. Find more at www.luveralawfirm.com
"Bernice Kekona was the victim of a tragic failure by Alaska to provide basic services between their flights," said Robert Gellatly of Luvera Law Firm, who represented the Kekona family. "Alaska failed Bernice miserably, and the company has continued to wield the legal system like a weapon to blame Bernice, evade responsibility, and undermine her grieving family in the most hurtful ways."
The jury sided with the relatives of 75-year-old Kekona, an amputee and disabled passenger, who was traveling home from Hawaii to Spokane, and had scheduled assistance traveling between gates at the Portland International Airport. When the escorts her family arranged left Kekona alone due to miscommunications between Alaska and its contractor, she attempted to make the trip herself, ultimately falling down 21 steps on an airport escalator in her wheelchair – a horrific incident captured on surveillance video.
More on Washingtoner
- Spokane: Additional PPE Kits Available Tuesday and Thursday
- Solid Earth Introduces RealtyID, a Universal Identity Spine for the Real Estate Industry
- BlazeHive's AI SEO Agent Outranks Human Writers on 500+ Google Top-3 Results in 5 Months, on Autopilot
- Cracking the Immortality Code: A Human / AI Long-Term Collaboration Working to Achieve Immortality
- On the Boards: Proform Builds Announce New Construction in Alki, Seattle
Kekona's injuries included trauma to her head and chest and escalator marks on her face, but the most significant was an Achilles tendon injury that led to septic infection. After three months of a painful and ultimately unsuccessful recovery process, doctors finally amputated her remaining leg, and she died the day after the surgery from overwhelming infection.
"Passenger consumers trust that airlines will provide basic services in keeping with safety regulations, and Alaska really dropped the ball in taking simple steps to ensure Mrs. Kekona's well-being," said Brook Cunningham of Randall Danskin, co-counsel for the Kekona family. "We're honored to help hold the airline accountable and ensure safety for other passengers."
The court rejected an earlier move by Alaska to dismiss the case. Throughout legal proceedings, the airline repeatedly tried to lay blame solely on Kekona herself, despite the fact that employees disregarded the family's arrangements and the company's own safety protocols in allowing a disabled septuagenarian to venture off, alone.
More on Washingtoner
- On the Boards: Proform Builds Announce New Construction in Gig Harbor
- Phinge Exposes Massive AI Security Risks, Claiming Its Patented Hardware-Verified Architecture Is The Only Safeguard Against Surveillance Capitalism
- Phinge & CEO Robert DeMaio Publicly Declare Cash Settlements or Judgments Alone Cannot & Will Not Remedy the Deep Public Harm of Infringing Its IP
- Dana Flanagan Expands the Authority Architect, Bringing a Nontraditional Approach to Executive Authority, Strategic Access and Business Growth
- Phinge's Netverse: Reclaiming the Digital Frontier For Everyone Through CEO Robert DeMaio's Vision of a True App-less, User Data Sovereign World
In its verdict, the jury found the airline 90 percent responsible for the injuries that led to Kekona's death, which Gellatly said he hopes will bring a measure of closure to the Kekona family.
"For the past four years, this grieving family has asked Alaska for transparency and accountability to ensure this wouldn't happen to another vulnerable passenger," Gellatly said. "We admire this family's bravery in continuing to fight in Mrs. Kekona's memory, and we thank the jury for their time and thoughtfulness in holding Alaska responsible for passenger safety."
About Luvera Law Firm:
Luvera Law Firm is a nationally recognized firm, with high standards of ethical conduct. The firm specializes in medical malpractice, brain injury, death and other major damage cases, and seeks justice for clients as well as positive changes in corporate and governmental behavior. Find more at www.luveralawfirm.com
0 Comments
Latest on Washingtoner
- LĪNA Universal Balm Nominated for "Best Clean Skincare Product" at CertClean Beauty Awards
- Spokane: SPD Arrest Level III Registered Sex Offender for Failure to Register
- SPD Detectives Investigating Suspicious Deaths in Northeast Spokane
- Bronze Stevie Award Recognizes Satyadhar Joshi for AI Research and Public Policy Engagement
- synseer Nominated for Best Startup in 2026 Prix Galien USA Awards Following Record Breaking Applicant Pool
- Leading PDR Training Courses in Canada: Learn Paintless Dent Repair with PDR Academy & Tint Academy
- Tacoma: Update Second Homicide Arrest – 2100 block of N 30th St
- Move in this Fall! New Released Quick Move-In Townhomes at Heritage at South Brunswick with Limited-Time Incentives
- Statement by Tacoma City Council Member John Hines on Advancing a Regional Effort to Address Animal Overpopulation
- Crossroads4Hope Marks 25 Years Ensuring No One Faces Cancer Alone At its Inspiring Hope Gala
- Q1 2026 Arizona Technology Industry Impact Report Recaps Advanced Manufacturing Growth, High-Value Jobs and Workforce Investment
- Spokane Police Respond to Midday Shooting on STA Bus
- Sparta Services' Dave Galy Named to CRN's 2026 Next-Gen Solution Provider Leaders List
- Former Prosecutor Opens Stegall Law in Summerville
- Vboost Celebrates 14 years of Automotive Viral Marketing
- Spokane: Notice of Intent to Make a Section 4(f) De Minimis Impact Determination
- Spokane Complex Fire Parks & Recreation update 08-12-26
- Ignazio Arces Wins Stevie® Award for Maverick of the Year at the 2026 International Business Awards
- Tickeron Highlights AI Trading Agent Performance Across Multiple Market Sectors
- Stop Bleeding Cash on Mediocre Talent. Build a Powerhouse Remote Team Instead