# RECEIVE D m 2 8 201 0 UNITE D STATES O

F AMERICA H F A R I M P HO r

kT T DEPARTMEN

T O F TRANSPORTATIO

N FEDERA L AVIATION ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON , D.C . In th e Matte

r o f EMPIR E AIRWAY S FA A Docke t No . 2009EA11003 9 CP10EA000 2 

# '"J . / / • (Civi l Penalt

y Proceeding ) o * . m- * 0 1 9 | Honorabl e Isaa

c D . Benki n ^ Administrativ e La

w Judg e - 'C D C 5 RESPONDENTS * MOTIO N FO RDECISIO N O N TH E PLEADING S COME S NOW , Empir

e Airways , Responden

t herein , b y and through undersigned coimsel , pursuant to Rule s 13.21 5 an

d 13.218(f)(5 ) o f

th e Procedura

l Rule s (1 4 C.F.R . Par

t 13) , an d hereb y move s fo

r adecisio n on th e pleading s an d adismissa

l of the Complaint , wit

h prejudice . Th e pleading s alone establis h tha t ther e ar e n o genuine issue s o f

materia l fac t t o b e resolve d regardin g th e allege d violations . Therefore , Empir e Airway s i s entitle d t o a decisio n a s amatte

r o f law o n th e pleadings , and adismissa l wit h prejudice . I

n suppor t thereof , Responden

t state s th e following : MATERIA L FACT S NO T I N DISPUT E 1 . O n Februar y 16 , 2010 , Complainant , Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n (hereinafte r "FAA") , served th e Complain t upo n the Respondent , Empir e Airways . 2 . I n th e Complaint , th e FA

A allege d tha

t "[a] t al l time s relevan

t herein , Empir

e Airway s wa s th e operator

of aDiamon d DA-2 0 aircraft , identificatio n numbe r N383CA. " Se e FA A Complain

t a t Paragraph No . 1 .3 . O n March 12 , 2010 , Empir

e Airway s filed a

n Answe r to th e FAA' s Complain

t pursuan t to 1 4 C.F.R . §13.209 , asserting , a s a n affirmative defense , tha

t "Empir e Airways , a t all relevant

times herein , wa s no t

th e owne r o r operator o f aDiamond DA-20 Aircraft , identificatio n numbe r N383C A ("the aircraft"). " See Respondent' s Answe r t o Complain t a t Affirmative defens e No . 1 (Exhibit 1 attache d hereto) . 4 . Furthermore , Respondent , Empir e Airways , denie d performing maintenanc e o n th e Diamon

d DA-2 0 Aircraft , identificatio n numbe r N383CA . See Respondent' s Answe r to Complain

t a t Paragrap h Nos . 1 1 & 1 2 (Exhibit 1 attache d hereto) . 5 . O n Jun e 21,2010 , mor

e tha n thre e (3 ) month s afte

r Complainan

t wa s notified tha

t Empir e Airway s wa s no t

th e properly named Respondent , Agency Counsel , Zachar y Berman , Esq. , filed a"Motio n t o Withdra w Complain

t Without Prejudice. " 6 . Specifically , Complainant' s motio n state s tha t "[u]po n fiirther

consideratio n of

th e evidenc e i n thi s case , th e Agenc y acknowledge s tha t th e compan y tha t

committe d th e allege d violation s wa s no t

Empir e Airway s ... " Se

e Complainant' s Motio n to Withdra w Complain

t Withou t Prejudic e a

t Paragraph 3 (Exhibit

2 attache d hereto ) (emphasi s added) . LEGA L STANDAR D Rule 13.21 5 of

th e Rule s of

Practic e dictate s that : A t an y time befor

e or durin g ahearing , a

n agency attorney ma

y v^thdra w a complain t o r apart y ma y withdra w areques t

fo r ahearin g without

th e consen

t of th e administrativ e la

w judge . I f a n agency attorne

y withdraw s th e complain

t o r a part y withdraw s th e reques t

fo r ahearin g an

d th e answer , th e administrativ e la w judg e shal l dismis s th e proceeding s unde r thi s subpar t

with prejudice . 1 4 C.F.R . § 13.21 5 (emphasi s added) .Accordingly , pursuant t o Rul e 13.215 , th e Honorabl e Isaac D . Benkin , Administrativ e La

w Judg e shal l dismis s th e proceeding s with prejudice . Furthermore , th e Rul e o f

Practic e allo w apart

y t o mak e amotio n fo

r decision , regardin g al l o r

an y part o f th e proceedings , at

an y tim e befor

e th e administrativ e la w judg e ha s issue d an initia

l decisio n i n th e proceedings . Mor e specifically , 1 4 C.F.R . §13.218(0(5 ) state s th e following , i n part ; The administrativ e la w

judg e shall gran

t aparty' s motio n fo

r decisio n i f

th e pleadings , depositions , answer s t o interrogatories , admissions , matter s tha t th e administrativ e la w

judg e ha s ofRciall

y noticed , o r

evidenc e introduce d durin g th e hearin g sho w that

there i s n o genuin e issu e o f materia l fac t an d tha t th e part y makin g th e motio n i s entitle d to adecisio n a s amatte r o f law . The party makin g th e motio n fo

r decisio n ha s th e burden o f showin g tha

t there i s n o genuin e issu e o f materia l fac t dispute d b y th e parties . 14C.F.R . §I3.2I8(f)(5) . ARGUMEN T Th e FAA' s Complain

t agains t Empir e Airway s mus t

b e dismisse d wit

h prejudic e becaus e th e pleading s sho w tha t there i s n o genuine issu e o f materia l fact t o b e resolve d concerning whethe

r Empir e Airway s committe d th e allege d violations . N O MATERIA L ISSU E O F FAC T EXIST S CONCERNIN G WHETHE R EMPIR E AIRWAY S COMMITTE D TH E ALLEGE D VIOLATIONS . In ligh t o f Complainant' s Motio n t o Withdra w Complain

t Without Prejudice , whic h explicitly state s tha

t "th e Agenc y acknowledge s tha t th e compan

y tha t committed th e allege d violation s wa s no t Empir e Airways" , th e pleading s alon e establishe s tha t ther e ar e n o genuin e issue s o f

materia l fact t o b e resolve d regardin g th e allege d violations .CONCLUSIO N Th e Complainan

t ha s no t and cannot

se t fort h specifi c fact s showing tha t ther e i s a genuine issu e o

f materia l fac t fo r trial concerning whethe

r Empir e Airway s committed th e alleged violation s o f

1 4 C.F.R . § § 43.13(a) , 43.13(b) , 91.405(a) , 91.407(a)(1) , 91.407(a)(2 ) an

d 91.7(a) . Accordingly , Empir e Airway s i s entitle d to adecisio n a s a matte r o f la w on th e pleadings , and th e Complain t mus t b e dismisse d wit

h prejudice . WHEREFORE , Responden t respectfull y request s tiiat

th e Honorabl e Isaa

c D . Benkin , Administrativ e La

w Judge , dismis s th e Complain t wit h prejudice . Dated : Jun e 22,201 0 Respectfirfjy-Submitted , iGQg>^ . WINTON , ESQ . ^The Aviatio n La

w Fir m One Researc h Court , Suit

e 45 0 Rockville , M D 2085 0 Tel : (301 ) 294-855 0 Fax : (301 ) 294-252 5 Greg@AviationLawExpert.co m

# EXHIBI T 1U.S . DEPARTMEN T O F TRANSPORTATIO N FEDERA L AVIATION ADMINISTRATIO N OFFICE O F HEARING S WASHINGTON , D.G . In th e Matte

r o f Empire Airway s 2009EAI1003 9 Hon . Isaac D . Benki n Administrativ e La w Judg e ANSWER EMPIR E AIRWAYS , b y it s Counsel , Casolaro Sussman , LLP , hereb y files it s Answe r pursuan t t o Rul e 20 9 o f

th e Rule s o f

Practic e (1 4 C.F.R . 13.209 ) an d state s th e following : 1 . Denie s 2 . Admit s 3 . Admit s 4 . Admit s that

th e whee l assembly o n th e aircraf t wa s re-assemble d o n o r

about Apri l 8,2009 . 5 . Admit s 6 . Denie s 7 . denie s 8 . Denies , excep t

admit s that

th e aircraf t wa s involve d i n a

n incident o n Jun e 1 , 2009 . 9 . Admi t10 . Admi t 11 . Denie s 12 . Denie s 13 . Denie s AFFIRMATIV E DEFENSE S 1 . Empir e Airways , at

al l relevant

time s herein , wa s no t

th e owne r o r operator o f a Diamon d DA-2 0 aircraft , identificatio n numbe r N383C A ("th e aircraft") . 2 . N o causal relationshi p exist s between th e repair performe d o n o

r about Apri l 8 , 200 9 an d th e inciden t

whic h occurre d o n Jun e 1,2009 . I f i t i s determine d that

any o f th e allege d violation s occurred , i t i s submitte d tha

t a civi l penalt

y i n th e amoun t

o f $20,000.0 0 i s unwarranted . Dated : Garden City , Ne w Yor k Marc h 12,201 0 CASOLAR O SUSSMAN J.L P By : Charle s J . Cagojaro , Esq . 105 0 Frankli n Avenue , Suite 40 2 Garden City , Ne w Yor

k 1153 0 (516)-248-139 9CERTIFICAT E O F SERVIC E

I hereb y certif

y tha t th e forgoing Answe

r ha s bee n place d thi s dat

e mth e Unite

d State s mail , postag e prepaid , first clas s mail , to : Zachar y Berman , Esq . Federa l Aviatio n Adininistratio n 1 Aviatio n Plaz a Jamaica , Ne w Yor

k 1143 4 Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W . Washington , D. C 2059 1 Attn : Hearin g Docke t

Clerk , AGC - 43 0 Wilbu r Wrigh t Buildin g - Room201 4 Hon . Isaa c D . Benkin , Administrativ e La w Judg e Offic e o f Hearings , M-2 0 U S Departmen

t o f Transportatio n 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S.E . Washingtoii , D.C , 2059 0 Dated : Marc h 24,201 0

ChMle s J . Casolvj»,^sq , Attorney fo

r Empire Airway s 105 0 Frankli n Avenue , Suit e 40 2 Garden City , Ne w Yor

k 1153 0

# EXHIBIT 2U.S . DEPARTMEN T O FTRANSPORTATIO

N FEDERA L AVIATIO

N ADMINISIKATION OFFIC E O FHEABJNG

S WASHINGTON, D.C . l athe Matte

r o f Emirir e Airway s 2009EA11003 9 CP10EAD00

2 Th e Honorable Isaa

c D . Benki n COMPLAINANT S MOTION T O WpHDRAW CQMPLAIN T WTTHOU

T PREJUDIC

E COME S NO W th e Agency , ]j y an

d throug h hi s designate

d rqpresentative , th e Re^onal Couns d fb r th e Easter n R^o n an

dhi s ^^i y designate

d agents , an

dmove s t o withdra

w it s Complain

t i n th e instan t proceedin g without prejudice , fo

r putpose s of

initiatin g th e cas e ane

w agains t th e correc t party . Th e hd mfo r tlu s motion i s a s Mows : (1 ) Th e name dResponden

t i n th e Complain

t i s Empir e Airways . (2 ) I n it s Answe

r t o th e Complaint, howeva: , it i s asserteda s a

n afSrmativ

e defens e tha t Empir e Airway s di dno t

maintai n o r operat e th e ^rcraf t i n question . (3 ) Upo n furthe

r consideratio

n o f th e evidence i

n thi s case , th e Agenc

y acknowledge s tha

t the c<»npan y tha t cotmnittedth e allege

d violation s wa s no t

Empir e Airways , bu

t EmjMr e Fligh t Academy . Counse

l fo r Empir e Airway s has represented t o counse l fo r the Agenc y tha t the y ar e tw o separat

e anddisdnct

entities . (4 ) Therefore , th e Agenc

y seeks t o withdra

w th e Complainan

t withou t prgudic e fo

r purpose s of



### W l ' d.J6a'0 N [-VB V 'liSNno o ivN0i93 y V V i mr- i MIMM ?initiatin g th e cas e anew against

Empir e Fligh t Academy . WHEREFORE

^ tiie Agtait

y request s tha

t it s motio n b e granted i

n al l respect s an

d tha t i t b e peraiitted t o withdra w th e Complain

t withou t prejudice for

purpose s o f

initiatin g th e cas e agains

t th e correc t corporat e entity . RespectftjU y submitted , AlfredRJohnson , Jr . Re^ona l Counse l

By : p) " V ^ Date : June21,201 0 ZacharyM, : Attorne y Federa l Aviation Administratio

n 1 Aviatio n Plaz a Jamaica, N Y 1143 4 Telephone : 71 8 553-325 8 Facsinule : 71 8 995-569 9



### __w i '

d ULi m 

## L- w 'i3SNno D moi mv v j mr d oion sCERTGCTCATF . OF.SERVIC

E I hereb y certif y tha t o n thi s da y copie s o f th e foregoin

g COMPLAINANT' S MOHO N T O WTTHDRA

W CQMPLAIN

T WTTHQU

T PREJUDIC

E wer e sen t vi afirst clas s mai l an

dvia facsimU e t o eac h o f th e followiiig : Th e Honorable Isaa

c D . Benki n Administrativ

e La w Judg e Offic e o f Hearings , M-2 0 U.S . Departmen

t o f Transportatio n 120 0 Ne w Jersey Avenue , S.E . Eas t Buildm g Ground Floo r RoomE12-32 0 Washii^oa , D.C . 2059 0 Telefax ; (202)366-753 6 Gregor y S . Wmton , Esq . 33 0 Aviatio

n Wa y 2dHoo r Frederick, M D 2170 1 Telefex : (301)294-252 5 I hereby certif

y tha t on thi s da y copie s o f

tiie forgoin g COMPLAINANTS MOTION TO WITHDRA

W qOMPLAINT WITHQU T PREJUDIC

E wer e sen t vi afirs t clas s ma U to : Federa l Aviatio n Administration (Origina

l an d one copy ) 800 dependenc e Avenu ^ S.W . Washington , D.C . 2059 1 Atta : Hearin

g Docket Clerk , AGC-43 0 Wilbu r Wr(gh t Buildin g - Roo m201 4

Date : ^^ ^ 2 1 20J

O ci^f--^ '

s aHook s Paralega l Specialis t Offic e o f Regiona l Counse l 1 Aviatio n Plaz a Jamaica , N Y 1143 4

^A " d UL \ m 

## L'

W 'iimoo imi m^ ^ i mn-' i oionrNn rCERTIFICAT E O F SERVIC E

I hereb y certif

y tha t I hav e thi s dat

e served b y regula

r U.S . mail , postag e prepaid , a n origina l an d on e (1 ) copy o f

th e foregoing addresse d to : Attention : Hearin g Docket Clerk , AGC-43 0 Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W . Roo m924 A Washington , D.C . 2059 1 And , fiirther , tha

t I hav e thi s dat

e served by regula

r U.S . mail , postag e prepaid , acop y of the foregoin

g addresse d to : Honorabl e Isaa

c D . Benkin Offic e o f Hearings , M-20 Roo m541 1 U.S . Departmen

t of Transportatio n 40 0 Seventii Street , S.W . Washington , D C 2059 0 Tel : (202 ) 366-213 2 Fax:(202)366-753 6 And , further , tha

t I hav e thi s dat

e served by regula

r U.S . mail , postag e prepaid , acopy of th e foregoing addresse d to : Zachar y M . Berman , Esq . Office o f Assistan t Chief Counsel FA A Easter n Region , AEA- 7 1 Aviatio n Plaza , Roo

m56 1 Jamaica , NY 1143 4 Tel : 718-553-325 8 Fax : 718-995-569 9 Dated : Jun e 22,201 0 GREGCg):^ . WINTON , ESQ . Th e Aviatio n La

w Fir m On e Research Court , Suit

e 45 0 Rockville , M

D 2085 0 Tel : (301 ) 294-855 0 Fax : (301 ) 294-252 5 Greg@AviationLawExperts.co m