Boeing settles lawsuits with two 737 MAX crash victims' families on eve of trial

Core Viewpoint - Boeing has settled lawsuits with the families of two victims from the March 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash, just before the trial was set to begin, marking a significant moment in the ongoing legal challenges faced by the company related to the 737 MAX crashes [1][4]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - The trial in US District Court in Chicago was anticipated to be the first against Boeing related to the two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in a 20-month grounding of the aircraft and cost the company over $20 billion [1][4]. - Boeing had previously agreed in 2021 to acknowledge liability for compensatory damages in lawsuits filed by families of the 157 victims of the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash [2][9]. - There are two additional trials scheduled for July and November, indicating ongoing legal scrutiny for Boeing [7]. Group 2: Financial Implications - Boeing's financial burden from the crashes has exceeded $20 billion, reflecting the significant impact of the incidents on the company's financial health [1][4]. - The company agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge and is facing a potential fine of up to $487.2 million, with a trial date set for June 23 if no final agreement is reached [8][10]. Group 3: Public and Regulatory Response - Relatives of the victims have criticized the plea agreement as a "sweetheart" deal, arguing that it does not hold Boeing sufficiently accountable for the fatalities [8][11]. - The US Department of Justice (DOJ) found that Boeing violated a 2021 agreement that had previously shielded it from prosecution, leading to the current criminal charges [10].