From CNN

A US judge in Texas ruled on Friday that people killed in two Boeing (BA) 737 MAX crashes are legally considered “crime victims,” a designation that will determine what remedies should be imposed.

In December, some crash victims’ relatives said the US Justice Department violated their legal rights when it struck a January 2021 deferred prosecution agreement with the planemaker over two crashes that killed 346 people.
The families argued the government “lied and violated their rights through a secret process” and asked US District Judge Reed O’Connor to rescind Boeing’s immunity from criminal prosecution – which was part of the $2.5 billion agreement – and order the planemaker publicly arraigned on felony charges.

O’Connor ruled on Friday that “in sum, but for Boeing’s criminal conspiracy to defraud the (Federal Aviation Administration), 346 people would not have lost their lives in the crashes.”

Paul Cassell, a lawyer for the families, said the ruling “is a tremendous victory” and “sets the stage for a pivotal hearing, where we will present proposed remedies that will allow criminal prosecution to hold Boeing fully accountable.”

Boeing did not immediately comment.

Great judgement. I always thought of Boeing as the finest aircraft company. I adored the 747 in its various versions and still miss it after hundreds of flights. But from what we now KNOW about the development of the 737 MAX, the basic premise that by not designing a new aircraft and instead yet again attempting to modify a 1960s airframe with engines too big for it, the short cuts taken virutally all aong the production line and then the introduction of the MCAS system without telling pilots about it - the company has to be viewed as far more than negligent. The bean counters knew precisely what they were doing as numberous whistle blowers eventually proved. Boeing has to pay up as criminals.

But I suggest the ruling does not go far enough. The FAA thanks to its too cosy relationship conspired with Boeing and has to bear a fair degree of the blame and contribute to damages settlements. Perhaps the FAA was not part of this law suit. If not, then one has to be brought against it sooner than later IMHO.

At least we now have the satisfaction of knowing that this rot in the aircraft industry and its regulators will most likely be rooted out. The skies will be safer as a result.

Hopefully you’re right. Boeing was one of America’s most trusted and respected corporations. That those at the top ignored their best engineers who warned them of the dangers, and that regulators colluded with them, justifies the judge’s decision. 

it was clear from the start that what was needed is a new generation narrow body type, with a more robust airframe to support larger engines.

Now the ruling has to survive challenges to higher courts that are sure to follow.