A woman who slipped on ice while disembarking from a US Airways flight at Newark Liberty International Airport agreed to a $3.1 million settlement in her Essex County suit, Crawley v. American Airlines Group, on May 21.

Towanna Crawley was required to disembark onto the tarmac on Feb. 5, 2014, because the commuter plane on which she flew was too small to use a jetway, said her lawyer, Todd Leonard. After taking a few steps on the tarmac, she encountered icy pavement and fell.

Crawley sustained injuries to her neck, back, and knee, and underwent three back surgeries and a cervical fusion. She is unable to continue her job as a kidney dialysis technician, said Leonard.

Crawley sued US Airways and its parent company, American Airlines; the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Snowlift Inc., a company that was under contract to remove snow and ice; and AFCO AV Ports, a company that was under contract to manage the airport.

The parties settled on May 21 in mediation with retired Superior Court Judge James Clyne of Benchmark Resolutions in Lambertville.

The settlement calls for Crawley to receive $3 million from the Port Authority, American Airlines and US Airways. They were insured by AIG Aerospace, which was represented by Douglas Amster and Peter Van Deventer of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard and Smith in Newark. Amster declined to comment on the case.

Another $50,000 was paid to the plaintiff on behalf of defendant Snowlift Inc., who was insured by Starr Indemnity and Liability Company, and represented by Timothy Hourican of Brown Gavalas & Fromm in Clifton. He did not return a call about the case.

Finally, $50,000 was paid on behalf of AFCO AV Ports Management, who was insured by Ace Property and Casualty Insurance Co. and represented by Paul Piantino of White and Williams in Newark. He did not return a call.

— Charles Toutant

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