Judge Denies Carnahan Family’s Request for Trial

A Circuit Court judge refused to grant a new trial to the family of the late Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan seeking punitive damages against Parker Hannifin. The judge said evidence was too weak to give to a jury, according to AOPA. The NTSB’s investigation into the crash of a Cessna 335 that killed Carnahan, his son and an aide on Oct. 16, 2000, found vacuum pumps made by Parker Hannifin were providing instruments with proper indications. The Carnahan family alleged, however, that Parker Hannifin earlier had refused to recall its vacuum pumps. But evidence indicated the company reported pump failures to the FAA and also warned customers that pumps could fail, urging the use of backup pumps. In a previous trial, Parker Hannifin was ordered to pay $2.4 million in actual damages.