Charleston judge demands Boeing settlement record
- U.S. District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks told Boeing and John Barnett’s family to put their proposed 787 whistleblower settlement on the public record. - The judge said Boeing had tried three times to win approval while keeping key terms secret, including a separate confidential deal tied to fairness review. - The fight extends scrutiny of Boeing’s North Charleston safety culture after Barnett’s 2024 death during deposition testimony. (postandcourier.com)
A federal judge in Charleston told Boeing and John Barnett’s family to disclose the terms of their proposed settlement in open court. (postandcourier.com) U.S. District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks said Boeing had made three attempts to get the deal approved under confidentiality in the South Carolina case. (postandcourier.com) The settlement stems from litigation involving Barnett, a former Boeing quality manager who raised concerns about 787 production in North Charleston and later died in March 2024. (postandcourier.com) (usnews.com) Earlier filings showed Boeing agreed to pay at least $50,000 to settle a wrongful-death claim brought by Barnett’s mother, while a related retaliation case carried undisclosed terms. (usnews.com) (bloomberg.com) Hendricks said she could not decide whether the agreement was fair without seeing the full financial picture, including the confidential side of the deal. (postandcourier.com) (allaboutlawyer.com) Barnett spent 32 years at Boeing and, after retiring in 2017, publicly described alleged defects involving oxygen systems and metal shavings near flight-control wiring on 787 jets. (usnews.com) (claimsjournal.com) Boeing has said it reviewed and addressed the issues Barnett raised years ago. The company has not publicly accepted responsibility for causing his death. (insurancejournal.com) (usnews.com) The judge’s order means the case stays public a little longer, with Boeing’s proposed payout and any linked terms now harder to keep out of view. (postandcourier.com)
