February 8 – The families of seven journalists killed in the Chapecoense air disaster are suing the club over the chartering arrangements.
João Tancredo, a lawyer representing the families, said he had applied to the courts for a copy of the contract between the club and the Bolivian-based airline LaMia.
Some 71 people – including virtually the entire playing squad – died in the crash on the approach to Medellin where Chapecoense were due to play Atletico Nacional in the first leg of the final of the Copa Sudamericana.
“Chapecoense will have to be sued, there is no other option,” said Tancredo. “It was the club that chartered the aircraft and made the contract with the airline. Chapecoense undertook all responsibility for the transportation.”
“I want to know who was responsible for the compensation in case of an accident. An insurance policy would have been made on behalf of the passengers. It is mandatory,”
The deputy legal director of Chapecoense, Luiz Antônio Palaoro, refuted Tancredo’s version of events. “The lawyer is entitled to do what he wants. But we are not responsible for the accident; we are victims too,” he said. “The ideal is to unite to fight with insurers, the airline and the Bolivian government,” he said.
“We call on families to join forces. The club is not directly responsible. The club offered to take the journalists because there were vacant seats, but no one was forced to board the flight.”
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