Kupferman v. Pakistan International Airlines

108 Misc. 2d 485, 438 N.Y.S.2d 189, 1981 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2226
CourtCivil Court of the City of New York
DecidedMarch 27, 1981
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 108 Misc. 2d 485 (Kupferman v. Pakistan International Airlines) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Civil Court of the City of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kupferman v. Pakistan International Airlines, 108 Misc. 2d 485, 438 N.Y.S.2d 189, 1981 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2226 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1981).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Norman C. Ryp, J.

By stipulation, between the parties in open court on January 28, 1981, the above-entitled commercial nonjury action for $10,000 in damages for negligence and breach of contract was submitted to this court for decision based upon trial memoranda and pretrial depositions by plaintiffs on February 27, 1980 in lieu of trial, on the issue of damages only.

FACTS

The plaintiffs, Franklyn and Evelyn Kupferman, took a group tour of China from June 20, 1978 to July 8, 1978 operated by defendant Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). This tour per person included land ($881) and air ($1,152) accommodations at a total cost of $2,033 or $4,066 per couple with a PIA charter flight from JFK International to Peking, China, with a stopover at Karachi, Pakistan. Plaintiffs’ luggage was mislaid after loading at JFK on June 20,1978 and not returned to plaintiffs until July 5 [486]*486or 6, 1978 just prior to their return to New York. This left plaintiffs without clothing, health aids, medication, movie camera, film and other necessary travel items which plaintiffs were unable to obtain for the duration of their stay in China. The absence of such articles restricted and at times prohibited their participation in tour activities because of lack of suitable clothing and toiletries to cope with the heat (98 degrees), caused plaintiffs to expend money and precious travel time on long-distance telephone calls attempting to recover their possessions and attempting without success to purchase replacements.

THE PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS

Plaintiffs contend that defendant’s negligence caused each physical discomfort and mental anguish, converting an anticipated Oriental holiday into an unpleasant, difficult experience and seek damages in the amount of $4,066, the total cost of subject tour. They contend PIA is liable for damages caused by delay in transportation of their luggage pursuant to article 19 of the Convention for Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Transporation by Air (Warsaw Convention) (49 US Stat 3014); is guilty of “wilful misconduct”, pursuant to article 25 of the Warsaw Convention; and failed to comply with article 4 of the Warsaw Convention so that the monetary limitations upon defendant’s liability, pursuant to the Warsaw Convention, are inapplicable.

Defendant, PIA, admits liability but contends the monetary limitations of $400 per person of subdivisions (2) and (4) of article 22 of the Warsaw Convention apply herein and disclaims any willful misconduct. The $400 per person monetary limitation is based upon $20 per kilogram (or $9.07 per pound) multiplied by the 20 kilogram (or 44 pounds) maximum baggage allowance.

APPLICABLE LAW

The Convention for Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Transportation by Air (Warsaw Convention) (49 US Stat 3014) governs the rights and liabilities of the parties herein. (See Warsaw Convention, art 1; Lisi v Alitalia-Linee Aeree Italiane, 253 F Supp 237, affd [487]*487370 F2d 508, affd 390 US 455; Hill v Eastern Airlines, 103 Misc 2d 306; Schedlmayer v Trans Int. Airlines, 99 Misc 2d 478; Kalish v Trans World Airlines, 89 Misc 2d 153.) Pursuant to article 19: “The carrier shall be liable for damage occasioned by delay in the transportation by air of passengers, baggage, or goods.”

Article 4 of the Warsaw Convention governs baggage checks:

“Article 4”

“(1) For the transportation of baggage, other than small personal objects of which the passenger takes charge himself, the carrier must deliver a baggage check.

“(2) The baggage check shall be made out in duplicate, one part for the passenger and the other part for the carrier.

“(3) The baggage check shall contain the following particulars:

“(a) The place and date of issue;

“(b) The place of departure and of destination;

“(c) The name and address of the carrier or carriers;

“(d) The number of the passenger ticket;

“(e) A statement that delivery of the baggage will be made to the bearer of the baggage check;

“(f) The number and weight of the packages;

“(g) The amount of the value declared in accordance with article 22 (2);

“(h) A statement that the transportation is subject to the rules relating to liability established by this convention.

“(4) The absence, irregularity, or loss of the baggage check shall not affect the existence or the validity of the contract of transportation which shall none the less be subject to the rules of this convention. Nevertheless, if the carrier accepts baggage without a baggage check having been delivered, or if the baggage check does not contain the particulars set out at (d), (f), and (h) above, the carrier shall not be entitled to avail himself of those provisions of the convention which exclude or limit his liability.”

[488]*488An examination of plaintiffs’ passenger tickets and baggage checks indicates noncompliance with article 4 (subd [3], par [f]). Clearly, PIA’s liability is not subject to any monetary restriction pursuant to subdivision (2) of article 22 of the Warsaw Convention. (See Hill v Eastern Airlines, 103 Misc 2d 306, supra; Schedlmayer v Trans Int. Airlines, 99 Misc 2d 478, supra.)

Plaintiff further contends willful misconduct by PIA in that defendant (1) incorrectly ticketed plaintiffs’ luggage for Karachi instead of Peking, (2) despite repeated requests by plaintiffs refused to correctly ticket the luggage, (3) refused to verify that the luggage was on the plane with plaintiffs from Karachi to Peking, (4) failed to retrieve luggage from Karachi for 15 days, and (5) gave self-serving false assurances through its agents and employees that subject luggage would be returned the next day. Willful misconduct is defined in subdivision (1) of article 25.

“Article 25”

“(1) The carrier shall not be entitled to avail himself of the provisions of this convention which exclude or limit his liability, if the damage is caused by his wilful misconduct or by such default on his part as, in accordance with the law of the court to which the case is submitted, is considered to be equivalent to wilful misconduct.

“(2) Similarly the carrier shall not be entitled to avail himself of the said provisions, if the damage is caused under the same circumstances by any agent of the carrier acting within the scope of his employment.”

This court finds fact that the above actions constitute “wilful misconduct” under article 25. (Compania De Aviacion Faucett, S.A. v Mulford, 386 So 2d 300 [Fla]; Cohen v Varig Airlines, S.A., 62 AD2d 324.) Therefore any limitations on defendant PIA’s liability pursuant to the Warsaw Convention are nullified by defendant’s conduct herein.

Compensable items of damage under the Warsaw Convention are to be determined pursuant to the law of the jurisdiction having the greatest or dominant interest in the matter. This court finds, in fact and law, that New York is the jurisdiction with the greatest interest in this matter; plaintiffs are New York residents, defendant PIA is a [489]*489foreign corporation licensed to do business in New York, subject tour began and ended in New York; therefore the laws of New York govern the award of damages.

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Bluebook (online)
108 Misc. 2d 485, 438 N.Y.S.2d 189, 1981 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2226, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kupferman-v-pakistan-international-airlines-nycivct-1981.