Lawyer Settles Over NY Plane Crash Solicitations

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A northern New Jersey attorney accused of violating U.S. law by soliciting families of victims of the Continental Connection Flight 3407 crash before 45 days had elapsed has settled a lawsuit with the government.

The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York says Richard J. Weiner of Montvale has paid $5,000 to settle the civil action.

An investigation by the Department of Transportation found that Weiner had solicited families of crash victims before the 45-day waiting period had ended.

The lawsuit alleged that Weiner sent letters to families in early March.

The Feb. 12 flight, which was operated by Colgan Air, originated in Newark and crashed in the Buffalo suburb of Clarence, N.Y., killing all 49 people on board and one person on the ground. About a dozen victims were from New Jersey.

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Colgan Air is owned by Pinnacle Airlines Corp.