Many Flight 3407 lawsuits settled, 11 could go to trial

Nearly four years after the crash of Continental Flight 3407 in Clarence, about a dozen wrongful death lawsuits remain in federal court.

In a memo updating the judge this week, lawyers representing the victims' families and the airlines they're suing say 29 settlements have been approved, with two settlements pending. That leaves 11 cases outstanding and perhaps headed for trial.

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Flight 3407 families have lobbied for stronger flight safety regulations since the deadly crash.

A handful of other suits remain in state Supreme Court. Settlement amounts haven't been disclosed.

The Newark-to-Buffalo flight operated by regional carrier Colgan Air crashed into a home in Clarence on February 9, 2009. All 49 people on board and one man in the house died.

The passengers' families' lawsuits name Continental, Colgan, its parent, Pinnacle Airlines, the plane's maker, Bombardier, and FlightSafety International, which trained the pilots.