Beneficiary told to fill detailed questionaire but declined after seeking legal advice.
FMT
WELLINGTON: A widow has rejected a US$50,000 offer by Malaysia Airlines for families of MH370 victims because of the conditions that came with it, the New Zealand Herald reported yesterday.
MAS had said that the US$50,000 compensation to the families of MH370 victims was only part of the final payment.
The Herald reported yesterday that widow of Kiwi victim Paul Weeks had rejected the offer because she was asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire, but after seeking legal advice, she was reluctant to do so.
A Malaysia Airlines spokesperson told the Herald that the offer was made in good faith with no strings attached.
Some victims had accepted the offer, however, the airline understood why others were hesitant.
“An advance compensation payment of US$50,000 has been offered to the families of each passenger on board MH370 to alleviate any immediate financial hardship,” the spokesperson said via email.
“The payment is being made in recognition of a non-binding, though widely followed international practice, with the amount being part of and to be offset against the final damages payable.
“The payment being offered is not conditional on the families waiving any rights to claim further compensation from the airline and the families remain free to take whatever further legal action they deem appropriate.
“However, in order to receive the payment full personal details have been requested to ensure that the amount is made to the legally entitled next of kin,” he said.
The spokesperson wanted to assure victims that full compensation would be offered regardless of whether they accepted the initial payment.
“The families are at liberty to either accept or reject the offer. The families were also advised that they can accept the payment later if they so wish,” he clarified.
The spokesperson could not comment further on when final compensation would be offered.
Voice370, the group Mrs Weeks helped set up for the families of the missing, criticised the offer at the weekend.
“Is any life worth so little?” the group asked.
“No sum of money, no matter how great, can compensate the families for our losses. No amount of money can ever take the pain away. True justice cannot be measured by money.”
The group said finding out what happened to MH370 was more important than compensation.
WELLINGTON: A widow has rejected a US$50,000 offer by Malaysia Airlines for families of MH370 victims because of the conditions that came with it, the New Zealand Herald reported yesterday.
MAS had said that the US$50,000 compensation to the families of MH370 victims was only part of the final payment.
The Herald reported yesterday that widow of Kiwi victim Paul Weeks had rejected the offer because she was asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire, but after seeking legal advice, she was reluctant to do so.
A Malaysia Airlines spokesperson told the Herald that the offer was made in good faith with no strings attached.
Some victims had accepted the offer, however, the airline understood why others were hesitant.
“An advance compensation payment of US$50,000 has been offered to the families of each passenger on board MH370 to alleviate any immediate financial hardship,” the spokesperson said via email.
“The payment is being made in recognition of a non-binding, though widely followed international practice, with the amount being part of and to be offset against the final damages payable.
“The payment being offered is not conditional on the families waiving any rights to claim further compensation from the airline and the families remain free to take whatever further legal action they deem appropriate.
“However, in order to receive the payment full personal details have been requested to ensure that the amount is made to the legally entitled next of kin,” he said.
The spokesperson wanted to assure victims that full compensation would be offered regardless of whether they accepted the initial payment.
“The families are at liberty to either accept or reject the offer. The families were also advised that they can accept the payment later if they so wish,” he clarified.
The spokesperson could not comment further on when final compensation would be offered.
Voice370, the group Mrs Weeks helped set up for the families of the missing, criticised the offer at the weekend.
“Is any life worth so little?” the group asked.
“No sum of money, no matter how great, can compensate the families for our losses. No amount of money can ever take the pain away. True justice cannot be measured by money.”
The group said finding out what happened to MH370 was more important than compensation.
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