Crash trial goes on without lead lawyer

By ANDREA HARTER

LITTLE ROCK — The Manus family's federal damages trial against American Airlines continued Tuesday without their primary attorney, Ted Boswell of Bryant, who became ill after opening statements Monday and later was hospitalized for tests.

Boswell is not expected to return before the trial concludes.

"I considered declaring a mistrial, but I think I'd be severely criticized if I did," said District Judge Henry Woods, who told attorneys that he felt that would be unnecessarily costly and time-consuming.

He noted that the Bush administration is belt-tightening on court costs and that he felt it prudent to push on, since Jim Jackson, another attorney in Boswell's firm, had taken most of the depositions in the case.

Stephanie Manus is suing the airline for damages she and her two daughters, Emily and Lauren, received when American Airlines Flight 1420 crash-landed and burned on the banks of the Arkansas River. Eleven died in the June 1, 1999, crash at Little Rock National Airport, Adams Field.

Manus' other attorney, Mike Slack, who also represents a handful of other 1420 passengers, has not been on the front line in the Manus litigation, but told Woods he would work overtime to learn the file.

Outside the presence of the jury, Woods said he felt that the trial could continue since a "good" jury had been selected and Boswell had delivered the opening statement, which Woods considered an important facet of any case.

Testimony resumed at 1 p.m. Tuesday with Manus' psychiatrist, Dr. Charles Lewis of Little Rock, reporting that Manus has recovered substantially since her early visits.

Lewis noted that Manus was generally sad at first, frequently complaining of flashbacks and nightmares. He diagnosed her with post-traumatic stress disorder three months after the crash.

Lewis said he felt that the mood-stabilizing drugs he'd prescribed had helped and he expected Manus to recover more fully once her litigation was complete. But, he said he thought she might always face a booby trap. If Manus is ever in a bad car crash or if one of the children became critically ill, she could have a "full relapse."

Manus, 30, of Benton has been seeing a psychotherapist twice a month since the crash.

That counselor, Joan Hemingway, testified that Manus has good days and bad days, and that she has urged Manus to find something positive about the crash to lessen the mental trauma.

Hemingway said she had encouraged Manus to fly again, but Manus flatly refused.

Lewis and Hemingway work at the Rice-Lewis Clinic, a Christian counseling center that mixes traditional therapies and medicines with prayer and spiritual counseling.

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