Israeli Judge Seeks Special Permission for Lawsuit Against Airline
Ron Goldstein, a Magistrate Court judge in Tel Aviv who also oversees the registrar's office at the Supreme Court, is planning to file a small claims lawsuit against the airline Blue Bird and its sister company, Qumi Airways. Goldstein, along with his wife Naama Yanko, a high-tech professional, has not yet filed the suit, but it is expected to concern flight delays and potential issues with hotel accommodations.
Blue Bird, owned by Ami Cohen and Arnon Engler, operates four Boeing 737-800 aircraft from Heraklion, Crete, flying to destinations including Greece, Budapest, Rome, Bucharest, and Barcelona. The airline has been observed to have a tendency for significant delays from Ben Gurion Airport. Qumi Airways also markets vacation packages, which may be the subject of the couple's potential claims.
Due to Goldstein's judicial position, the process for filing the lawsuit is more complex than for ordinary citizens. According to Section 24 of the Courts Law, the President of the Supreme Court must determine which court will hear the case. Goldstein and Yanko approached Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, who ruled on October 26, 2023, that unless objections are filed by October 8, 2026, the case will be heard in the small claims court in the Central District. This decision was made for the appearance of justice, considering the couple's desire to litigate in central Israel near their residence.
If the lawsuit proceeds in the Central District, the President of the Magistrate Courts in that district, Menachem Mizrahi, will assign the specific court. The proceedings may also differ from standard small claims cases. Typically, parties in small claims court are not represented by lawyers. However, given that the plaintiff is a judge, Blue Bird and Qumi Airways will likely be permitted legal representation, while Goldstein is expected to represent himself and his wife. If Yanko were to represent them, the airlines might not be allowed legal counsel.
