By Sakthi Prasad
Sept 5 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge ruled that AMR Corp's
American Airlines and United Continental Holdings Inc must face
trial over claims relating to the Sept. 11 attacks that
destroyed the landmark towers of the World Trade Center in New
York almost 11 years ago, court documents showed.
In July 2001, two months before the attacks, World Trade
Center Properties LLC (WTCP) bought 99-year leases to four World
Trade Center buildings from the Port Authority of New York and
New Jersey Inc for $2.805 billion.
In its lawsuit against United Airlines and American
Airlines, WTCP said that had it not been for the airlines'
negligence, "the terrorists could not have boarded and hijacked
the aircraft and flown them into the twin towers," on Sept. 11,
2001, according a New York court filing.
The company claimed damages of $8.4 billion from the
airlines, the estimated cost of replacing the towers.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein limited the value of WTCP's
destroyed property to $2.805 billion, the price WTCP paid for
the leases.
The defendants denied they were negligent, and said the case
should not go to trial because WTCP has recovered $4.091 billion
from insurance companies.
Judge Hellerstein said at this stage he could not reasonably
determine the defendants' claim that insurance payments received
by WTCP covered the damages the company is seeking from them.
"On this record, before trial, I am not able to make such
findings," Judge Hellerstein said in a court filing.
The case is in re Sept. 11 litigation, Case No. 21-MC-101,
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.
Follow us on Twitter @ReutersLegal | Like us on Facebook