• croatiantimes.com
• romaniantimes.at
• salzburgtimes.at
• viennatimes.at
• austrianindependent.com

Today

• Vienna - VESCC English Catholic Mass
• Vienna - Unknown Underground
• Vienna - Art by Petronilla Hohenwarter.
• STOMP at the MuseumsQuartier
• Ice skating at Rathaus

05. 02. 10. - 12:00

• more General News news
• RSS Feed General News

05. 02. 10. - 12:00

Experts at odds after Brit accused of beating Austrian on AUA flight

Legal experts are at loggerheads over whether Austrian law can be applied in a legal battle after an Austrian beaten up by a Brit on an Austrian Airlines (AUA) plane has to take place.

An Upper Austrian launched legal action after he suffered broken ribs in the attack by the Briton on a flight from Thailand. The Pregarten resident claimed he was attacked by the man after he accidentally touched his sunburned skin.

A first court case held at the district court of Schwechat, Lower Austria where Vienna International Airport (VIA) is based was abandoned after the Briton – who lives in Denmark – failed to turn up.

The Upper Austrian then decided to demand 5,500 Euros in compensation, and his lawyer Peter Lindinger is determined not to let the attacker get off again.

Lindinger told the Kronen Zeitung newspaper judges in Schwechat passed the new case on to the court in Pregarten where his client lived.

Now a date for the trial has been set, and the defendant could be sentenced via a default decree if he failed to turn up again this time. Legal experts have said they there is a good chance of successful cooperation between Austrian judges and their Danish colleagues in the case.

It remains however unclear whether Austrian law would be the base for the trial in Pregarten despite a judgement by the Austrian High Court that the country’s law was applicable on AUA planes since they were "Austrian flagship carriers", according to judges.

But it has also been pointed out that the German aviation company Lufthansa acquired a major stake in the struggling firm – a move that probably saved AUA from going bankrupt.

Experts have said the situation could change completely if the Briton decides to get in touch with Pregarten judges, gives his side of the story and demands a relocation of the trial to Denmark or to the United Kingdom.

In that case, it would be the Austrian High Court’s turn to decide again.

Austrian Times

Related articles: quirky Austria

1. 007 health worries Lugner

   » Panorama 2012-02-07

   Richard Lugner has expressed concerns about Sir Roger Moore’s health.

2. Lugner bags Bond

   » Panorama 2012-02-02

   Danish model Brigitte Nielsen and "James Bond" star Sir Roger Moore will accompany an Austrian entrepreneur at this year’s Vienna Opera Ball.

3. DocLX abolishes booze ads

   » Business 2012-01-13

   Austria’s leading post-graduation holiday organiser promised to stop advertising around-the-clock alcohol supply.

more related articles tagged "quirky Austria"

Related articles: EU

1. Price check confirms AUA staff's friendly fire complaints

   » Business 2012-02-09

   Austrian Airlines (AUA) employees’ representatives feel confirmed in their criticism of Lufthansa as a price check reveals that the Viennese airline’s German mother company offers cheaper connections.

2. Pühringer rejects U-turn on rightist ball

   » General News 2012-02-09

   Young Social Democrats (SPÖ) have appealed to Upper Austrian Governor Josef Pühringer not to attend the Burschenbundball in Linz this Saturday.

3. WKO boss wants pension age hike incentives

   » Business 2012-02-09

   Federal Economy Chamber (WKO) President Christoph Leitl has identified attempts to raise the average retirement age as the key issue regarding Austria’s budget.

more related articles tagged "EU"

Set up tax on financial transactions soon, says Katzian
The head of the Association of Private Employees (GPA-djp) has called for a quick introduction of a tax on financial transactions.

Pühringer rejects U-turn on rightist ball
Young Social Democrats (SPÖ) have appealed to Upper Austrian Governor Josef Pühringer not to attend the Burschenbundball in Linz this Saturday.

FPÖ under fire after trip to Grozny
The Freedom Party (FPÖ) has been harshly criticised for meeting with Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov.

WKO boss wants pension age hike incentives
Federal Economy Chamber (WKO) President Christoph Leitl has identified attempts to raise the average retirement age as the key issue regarding Austria’s budget.

Woman and child run over in Vienna
A woman and child have died in a road accident in Vienna, Austria. The lorry driver was making a right turn when he drove into a group of pedestrians leaving a 59-year-old and a 12-year-old dead. The mother of the school girl was left with serious injuries.

Schlecker says Austrian jobs are safe
The son of Schlecker founder Anton Schlecker has claimed that the company has no plans to sell its Austrian affiliate.

SPÖ sees smaller parliament as key signal
The general secretary of the Social Democrats (SPÖ) has argued his support for a reduction of the size of the parliament.

Austrian food to feature in organic trade fair
Austria is expected to be well represented at next week’s BioFach 2012 international organic trade fair in Nuremberg, Germany. Some 90 companies and organisations from the Austrian organic good sector will feature at the fair from 15 to 18 February.

Brothel for the homeless in Vienna
Homeless people are queueing up for free rooms in an Austrian brothel after owner Peter Laskaris said it would be unfair not to do everything he could during the current cold spell.

Deep-freeze snacks for orangutans in Schönbrunn
The lucky orangutans who take up residence in Europe’s oldest zoo have been indulging in a twice weekly take-away. Despite the trees in Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria now being completely bare the fury friends have fresh branches and leaves delivered twice a week.