David Ian Katzman

Aviation Accident Attorney | Pilot | Aviation Law Expert

David Katzman represents clients in complex aviation accident litigation involving aircraft crashes, product liability, component failure, pilot error, crashworthiness, and high-stakes wrongful death claims. His experience includes argument before the United States Supreme Court in complex aviation litigation matters.

David I Katzman Aviation Accident Attorney
“At fourteen I took my first flying lesson and at fifteen I was inspired to become an attorney. At sixteen I began working after school for aviation accident attorney Richard Schaden. My nearly lifelong devotion to law and aviation is firmly founded in my deep and abiding respect and commitment to the pursuit of justice for people in need of an attorney as a result of the death of their loved one or from injuries due to no fault of their own.”

– David I. Katzman

Aviation Accident Litigation Attorney
Hundreds of Millions Recovered for Clients
Admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court
Decades of Complex Aviation Case Experience
5,000+ Hours Pilot-in-Command
Over 50 Years as an Active Pilot
Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate
Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Injury Aviation Cases
David Ian Katzman is one of the world’s foremost aviation lawyers and aviation law experts, with extensive litigation experience in complex personal injury, wrongful death, and commercial product liability claims. He has successfully litigated numerous cases, winning favorable judgments and settlements involving product design, component failure, pilot error, and airplane crashworthiness.

David began flying at 14 years of age; he soloed a fixed wing Cessna 152 airplane at 16 years of age, and had his commercial license, instrument and multi engine ratings by 20 years of age. He obtained an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate (the highest civilian pilot certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration) at 33 years of age. David has been an active pilot for over fifty years and has owned and operated 25 different airplanes, ranging from small sport airplanes to corporate jets. He has over 5000 hours of flying time as pilot-in- command and holds multiple turbo jet aircraft type ratings, including Falcon 10/100 models and all Hawker series corporate jets. David continues to fly on a regular basis as an active pilot, principally using his pressurized Beechcraft P-58 Baron.

David graduated from University of Detroit Law School in 1982 and obtained his first multimillion-dollar jury verdict in 1984; and his second jury verdict over a million dollars in 1985. David has continuously racked up successful multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements through the years, including a jury verdict of $57,000,000.00 arising from a 747-800 crash in Afghanistan and a settlement exceeding $42,000,000 from a general aviation crash on the East Coast of the United States. The total amount of money recovered for clients from trials and settlements is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. For educational analysis of aviation accident investigations, see our Aviation Insights section.

He advises families after aviation accidents in matters involving aircraft operations, product liability, and complex liability analysis.

You may email Mr. Katzman at dkatzman@klm-law.com or use our contact form.

Aviation Litigation Focus

David’s aviation background supports his work in complex aviation accident litigation involving aircraft operations, product liability, pilot decision-making, crashworthiness, and high-stakes wrongful death claims.

Aircraft Product Liability

David handles aviation cases involving product design, component failure, aircraft systems, and crashworthiness issues where technical defects may become central to the litigation.

Commercial and General Aviation Accidents

David’s experience spans litigation involving commercial aircraft, corporate aircraft, charter operations, and general aviation accidents.

Complex Crash Investigations

Aviation accident litigation often requires early technical investigation, evidence preservation, expert coordination, and careful review of findings from agencies such as the NTSB.

Pilot Error and Flight Operations

His experience as an active pilot supports analysis of pilot decision-making, aircraft handling, training, flight operations, and the circumstances leading to loss of control or impact.

Representative Experience

David’s aviation litigation experience includes complex personal injury, wrongful death, commercial product liability, and aircraft crashworthiness claims.

  • Complex aviation personal injury and wrongful death claims
  • Commercial aviation accident litigation
  • General aviation crash litigation
  • Aircraft product design and component failure claims
  • Pilot error and flight operations cases
  • Aircraft crashworthiness litigation
  • Multimillion-dollar aviation verdicts and settlements
  • Argument before the United States Supreme Court

Related Aviation Insights

For readers seeking more background on aviation accident litigation, the following resources explain key legal, investigative, and technical issues that frequently arise in aircraft accident cases.

NTSB Investigation Process

How aviation accident investigations develop and why early investigative findings may matter in civil litigation.

Aviation Accident Litigation

An overview of how aviation accident claims are investigated, developed, and litigated.

Commercial Airline Accident Litigation

Legal and technical issues that may arise after serious commercial airline accidents.

Private and Corporate Aircraft Accident Litigation

Issues involving private aircraft, business jets, corporate aviation operations, and ownership structures.

Complex Aviation Litigation Methodology

How complex aviation cases are evaluated through technical evidence, expert analysis, and litigation strategy.

Federal Preemption in Aviation Product Liability

Why federal aviation law may shape product liability claims involving aircraft design, warnings, and components.

Working With Referring Attorneys

Katzman Lampert & Stoll works with referring attorneys nationwide in aviation accident cases that require focused experience with aircraft operations, crash investigation, product liability, and complex aviation litigation.

Contact Katzman Lampert & Stoll

To discuss an aviation accident case, contact the firm for a confidential consultation.

1-866-309-6097

MICHIGAN OFFICE
Katzman Lampert & Stoll
950 West University Dr #101
Rochester, MI 48307

E-mail: Click to use our Contact Form
Toll-Free: (866) 309-6097
Phone: (248) 258-4800
Fax: (248) 258-2825

COLORADO OFFICE
Katzman Lampert & Stoll
9596 Metro Airport Ave.
Broomfield, CO 80021

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Toll-Free: (866) 309-6097
Phone: (303) 465-3663
Fax: (303) 867-1565

PENNSYLVANIA OFFICE
Katzman Lampert & Stoll
121 N. Wayne Ave. # 205
Wayne, PA 19087

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Toll-Free: (866) 309-6097
Phone: (610) 686-9686
Fax: (610) 686-9687