Friday, September 30, 2022

Singer Andrea Bocelli sues private jet firm

Andrea Bocelli, the Italian operatic singer, is suing New Hampshire-based Private Jet Services Group over breach-of-contract allegations that the firm gave him a noisy, cold private jet with personnel who warned of possible turbulence against his wishes.

Mr. Bocelli, blinded by a soccer injury in his childhood, has heightened hearing sensitivity, and he is particularly “sensitive to the elevated noise that an older airplane tends to make in flight, with such elevated noise causing him more anxiety,” the lawsuit stated.

For this reason, Mr. Bocelli requires planes with certain specifications before arranging air travel for tours and other purposes.

Mr. Bocelli wanted “a Dassault Falcon 7X and Falcon 8X or, for flights under 4 or 5 hours, a Dassault Falcon 900 EX or EX Easy, and the Falcon 2000LX,” and that the plane itself, no matter the model, had to be four years old or newer.

There is also a specification that aircrews not mention any turbulence or weather-related complications, so as not to inflame the singer’s anxiety.

9 comments:

  1. Well, was there a contract in affect for his stated wishes? Hopefully not. seem pretty impractical to sign a contract holding the operator to these conditions.
    No contract, no case.

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  2. He may have trouble getting a charter in the US in the future.

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  3. Most travel special requirements fill in the blank form entry space is intended for obtaining a Kosher meal. His agent should pack a kit of foam earplugs, sleep mask and Valium for him. Easy fix.

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  4. I'm surprised to see some of the comments here. Quite sad.

    I can see how he would need those special accommodations, and he's also willing to pay for them - a newer plane would definitely charter for more money and it's not such a big thing to ask not to be told of upcoming turbulence.

    Such a bad man for refusing to take some nasty (and potentially addictive) drugs when all he asked for was a new, quiet plane.

    Ever tried having a conversation while wearing earplugs? He uses his hearing as his eyes, it would be the equivalent of you being told to stare at the sun while you try to read a book. Won't work that well, will it?

    Now, the big question is how much of his demands are in writing in the charter contract? If all clearly spelled out, he'll have a case, otherwise, who knows?

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  5. I worked in sales for a charter company that specialized in "high profile / unique needs" clients. Wealthy clients are often eccentric and wealthy clients with disabilities can be VERY eccentric and demanding. We had an experienced law firm on retainer who would codify such things into a contract and that contract was legally binding on both parties. If a charter company agreed in writing to these things and then failed to deliver, they are about to either lose a lawsuit or have a substantial claim on their liability or errors and omissions insurance.

    The contractual requirement - assuming there was a contract in place - for a specific airplane type less than four years old and no mention of turbulence by the crew during conversations with the passenger is completely achievable. I've had far more onerous demands come across my desk and the response was typically "We can do that, but we need a non-refundable deposit and the terms and conditions relating to your needs will be memorialized in a contract that we will send over for your signature in xx days."

    As another post said, asking a blind person to wear earplugs is completely unworkable. Ditto the flippant expectation that he would take a Valium for his anxiety. You don't tell these folks how to live their lives - they tell you how they want to travel and you either accommodate them or pass.

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    1. His agent should add Van Halen's bowl of M&M candies with all the brown ones removed stipulation, to make sure the contract was read in detail. Seeing no such bowl on board would be grounds for not taking the flight. Easy to do:

      https://www.businessinsider.com/van-halen-brown-m-ms-contract-2016-9

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