Francis “Frank” Fleming’s focus is in representing victims of aircraft crashes including military aviation accidents. Frank completed training as a naval aviator and served as a helicopter pilot and forward air controller in Vietnam. He settled a suit of four wrongful death claims related to the crash of a U.S. Navy MH-53E helicopter in Sigonella, Italy. The numerous victims Frank has represented in aviation and military accidents include members of both Houses of Congress, well known business executives, entertainers, professionals and prestigious military personnel, including pilots involved in the U.S. Air Force’s Thunderbirds and the Marine Presidential Helicopter Squadron HMX-1.
Our firm has tremendous experience litigating cases involving the Government and Military Contractor Defense doctrine, which gives government contractors additional protection in lawsuits involving the products they build for the government.
Frank received his baccalaureate engineering (B.E.) degree from Villanova University and accepted a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps upon graduation. He received his Juris Doctor degree and participated in the Villanova Law Review as an Associate Editor.
Working for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, Frank has been involved with numerous cases including being appointed in multidistrict litigation (MDL) 391 on the discovery and related litigation arising out of the crash of a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 operated as American Airlines Flight 191; he was appointed in MDL 807 on the discovery and related litigation arising out of the in-flight explosion of a Boeing 747 operated as United Airlines Flight 811; he was also appointed in MDL 683 on the discovery and related litigation arising out of the crash of a McDonnell Douglas DC-8 operated as an Arrow Air military transport.
Boeing’s motion to dismiss was based on the grounds of forum non conveniens, and the Court accepted his argument that the issues surrounding the safety of the Boeing 737 flight control capacities warranted retention of these claims in the United States, despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of the victims were from Southeast Asia.
Additionally, Frank has served as the Chairman of the Aviation Section of the American Trial Lawyers Association, written several papers and given lectures to the American Trial Lawyers Association annual meeting, the American Bar Association Tort Insurance and Practice Section, Southern Methodist Law School Air Law Symposium and Beaumont/Garnault International Aviation Conference in London, England.
