Rocket Ship Liability Crisis in Virginia

Ben Glass
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 320
Posted by Ben GlassJanuary 25, 2007 12:49 PM

Ok all you folks lining up to take sub-orbital space flights originating in Virginia--beware that if the rocket ship provider launching you atop a couple million gallons of explosive fuel screws up and kills you, you might not be able to sue them for their carelessness.

I kid you not. There is a bill that has been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly that would shield spaceflight entities providing spaceflight activities to any participant in a suborbital flight" from lawsuits, except for gross negligence.

While the bill is silly on its face, it does show the mounting problem of legislatures granting immunity for negligence and carelessness to special interest groups. After all, is there really a Rocket Ship Liability Crisis in Virginia?

Delegate Terry Kilgore is apparently responsible for this joke, but it is backed by The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS, get it?)

1 Comment

Have an opinion about this post? Please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Jack Kennedy
Posted by Jack Kennedy
January 25, 2007 8:17 PM

Hi Ben,

Please permit me to share one thought: "They all laughed at Christopher Columbus too."

You are entitled to think of the commercial space sector is a joke and certainly you have the right to that view, but I do commend for your reading:

More ...

The technology being advanced by the nascent commercial space industry will contribute to aerospace innovations. The Federal law already provides for similar waivers of liability against the federal government for issuance of the launch license to aloft commercial suborbital passengers or commercial astronauts to service the space station post spave shuttle retirement in 2010.

Would you be interested in participation in a forum on this topic and interact on the topic of commercial spaceflights at some point in the near future?

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport is NOT backing the legislation, per se. But the legislation helps put Virginia on par with New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and others seeking to develop commercial space launch business in their states. I hope this does provide some measure of clarification even if deemed funny. It is good to have your interest as a fellow Virginian.

Comments for this article are closed.

Subscribe to InjuryBoard Northern Virginia

InjuryBoard Northern Virginia RSS Feeds

Keep up with the latest updates using your favorite RSS reader

Injury Board Northern Virginia, Virginia brought to you by Benjamin W. Glass, III & Assoc. PC

Legal Assistance Center

More Info
Benjamin W. Glass, III & Assoc. PC 866-735-1102 Ext 320 www.benglasslaw.com
google
Personal Injury Lawyers Serving: Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Fairfax, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Haymarket, Lorton, Manassas, McLean, Oakton, Prince William County, Reston, Spotsylvania County, Springfield, Vienna, Woodbridge
3915 Old Lee HighwaySuite 22-B, Fairfax, Virginia 22030 [ Show Map ]
Better Business Bureau Accredited Business Confidential

Your question will be referred to an attorney near you. If your question is of a legal nature, then by submitting this form you agree you are not forming a formal attorney / client relationship. Read our full privacy policy.

Looking for an InjuryBoard attorney closer to home? Click here.

Subscribe to Blog Updates

Enter your email address if you would like to receive email notifications when comments are made on this post.

Email address