In November 2024, the plaintiffs asked U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez to dismiss their case without prejudice, citing delays in discovery due to the ongoing investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). They also expressed the need for more time to gather information to add new defendants and determine how to proceed with the trial.
However, Boeing, Spirit, and Alaska Airlines argue that after nearly a year of litigation, the plaintiffs should not be allowed to “reset” the case and engage in forum-shopping. The companies contend that dismissing the case to move it to state court would only delay the process further and create additional inefficiencies.
At the core of the dispute is the plaintiffs’ desire to pursue a jury trial, which they could not obtain in federal court under the current circumstances. Boeing, Spirit, and Alaska Airlines assert that the federal court proceedings, which include a consolidated bench trial with a related case, are the most efficient and logical option.