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Trial over plane crash into New York home begins

By WTOP Staff

CAROLYN THOMPSON
Associated Press

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A jury Thursday began hearing the only case to go to trial over the February 2009 plane crash into a home outside Buffalo that killed 50 people.

Opening statements framed some tough questions jurors will consider to determine how the airlines must compensate the family of Douglas Wielinski: Did he die instantly when the commuter plane crashed into their home? To what extent did the crash traumatize his widow and daughter?

“No words can describe the horror of the night they lived through. No words can describe the terror they felt,” the Wielinskis’ attorney, Anne Beltz Rimmler, told jurors in state Supreme Court. “The enormity of their loss is overwhelming.”

Karen Wielinski and daughter Jill Hohl are seeking unspecified damages from Continental Airlines, regional carrier Colgan Air and Colgan parent, Pinnacle Airlines, in the Connection Flight 3407 crash that killed all 49 people on board.

Theirs is the only one of dozens of lawsuits filed after the crash to go to trial. Lawsuits filed by the passengers’ families were settled for undisclosed sums. The Wielinskis were unable to reach an agreement.

Rimmler described the aftermath of the crash, telling jurors how Karen Wielinski and her daughter “miraculously” freed themselves from their leveled two-story home and made it outside as the plane burned. She said they were forever scarred by the thought of Douglas Wielinski surviving the impact only to die in the ensuing fire.

“Everybody hoped and prayed Doug died instantaneously, but the facts do not support that,” the attorney said.

The airlines contend Wielinski did die on impact, saying his body was driven from the home and across the driveway, where it was found two days later under rubble.

“His legs had been traumatically separated from his body,” Neil Goldberg, attorney for Colgan and Pinnacle, said. “He had sustained a fractured sternum and at least 10 fractured ribs … Mr. Wielinski did not draw a single breath following the impact.”

Investigators said the commuter flight from Newark, New Jersey, on its way to Buffalo stalled and crashed onto the Wielinski’s home in the suburb of Clarence after the pilots responded incorrectly to a stall warning.

“We sincerely feel for them and are so sorry this ever occurred,” Goldberg said. “We agreed this accident was caused by the mistakes of our pilots.”

But Goldberg cited “sharp differences of opinion,” including the value of Douglas Wielinski’s extensive sports memorabilia collection, some of which was destroyed, and the extent of the psychological impact on Karen Wielinski and Hohl.

Rimmler characterized the women’s suffering as “monumental,” while the airline attorneys said the fact that they had returned to work, kept up with family celebrations and maintained friendships indicated the psychological trauma was mild or moderate.

Continental attorney Oliver Beiersdorf also expressed the airline’s condolences and asked jurors to follow legal guidelines when determining an award.

“Putting a monetary value on someone’s life, as you’re being asked to do, is not an easy task,” he said.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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