Arkansas Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over Plane Crash

September 10, 2012

A Washington County, Ark., judge has dismissed a lawsuit over an airplane crash in Springdale on procedural grounds.

The Northwest Arkansas Times reports Circuit Court Judge Joanna Taylor threw out the case on Thursday, saying plaintiff Barry Gilbow’s attorneys didn’t present evidence of what caused the crash during the trial.

Gilbow was seeking $250,000 in damage from Jimmy Crawford. At issue was whether Gilbow or Crawford was responsible for the accident.

A National Transportation Safety Board investigation determined the plane ran out of fuel Feb. 12, 2011, but neither side put the agency’s report into evidence.

Gilbow’s attorney, Mark Ford, asked Taylor to allow him to reopen his case and present more evidence, but she said there was no basis in state law that would allow her to do that.