By CATHY ARONSON
Airlines have been served with claims on behalf of 20 New Zealanders who blame deep-vein thrombosis for ill-health or a relative's death.
The defendants are Air New Zealand, British Airways, Qantas, Thai Airways, United, Malaysia and Singapore Airlines.
Wellington lawyer Roger Chapman said the long-distance passengers contended that the airlines were liable under the Warsaw Convention.
"They have to show they did everything possible to avoid an accident, which is something unexpected caused by something external."
Mr Chapman said four of the claims were from people whose relatives had died from DVT. The other plaintiffs have had, or still have, serious medical problems after long-haul flights. Eight of the claims are against Air New Zealand.
In a separate action, a test case involving the first of about 1000 claims against major airlines goes before the Victorian Supreme Court on May 20.
About 20 of the plaintiffs in the Australian lawsuit are also New Zealanders who caught planes from Australia.
Feature: Economy class syndrome
nzherald.co.nz/health
DVT cases under way
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