> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.shayinformed.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 30 lawyers, one judge and a fight over evidence: The UPS crash lawsuits get their first day in court - URL: https://www.shayinformed.com/30-lawyers-one-judge-and-a-fight-over-evidence-the-ups-crash-lawsuits-get-their-first-day-in-court/ - Published: 2026-10-20T01:07:14.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-20T01:07:14.000Z - Author: Shay McAlister - Tags: Covering Kentucky Plaintiffs say Boeing and UPS are holding back what they've told federal investigators, and that victims shouldn't have to wait a year to learn why their loved ones died. --- *For Grade A Autoparts Manager Manuel Leos, the wait is both painful and angering.* [*Another story dives into what the time has cost him*](https://www.shayinformed.com/a-year-later-the-ups-crash-lawsuits-are-still-waiting-to-begin/)*... and a law expert weighs in on what to expect as the Louisville court system works to consolidate the cases covering one of the most tragic days in our city's history.* *I am an independent journalist, fully funded by subscribers. You can* [*support important work like this for $4.99/month*](https://www.shayinformed.com/a-year-later-the-ups-crash-lawsuits-are-still-waiting-to-begin/#/portal/signup) *and gain access to my in-depth reporting, investigations, podcasts and weekly newsletter.* *Want to listen instead of read? This week's episode of One More Question with Shay McAlister goes inside the story. Access is at the bottom of this page!* --- The courtroom was so full on Monday that lawyers had to sit in the jury box. About 30 attorneys showed up to Jefferson Circuit Court for the first big hearing in the UPS Flight 2976 lawsuits, according to John Spalding, who represents the family of Matthew Sweets. The counsel tables were full. So was the gallery. The judge on the case is Jefferson Circuit Judge Eric Haner. And by Spalding's account, the day was less about what happened on Nov. 4, 2025, than about who has to hand over what, and when. ## One courtroom, for now The lawsuits are being pulled into Haner's court, but only for one part of the case: liability, or how the crash happened. "We're consolidating all of these, 25, 30 cases, into Judge Haner's court, just for the purpose of liability," Spalding said. "How this crash happened. In doing so, we're having to come up with a case management order that essentially is setting out the rules for how this will work." Those rules cover everything from how evidence is exchanged to how and when depositions will be taken. The lawyers also agreed to use a tool borrowed from federal court. "We've agreed to do something that they do in federal court, called initial disclosures," Spalding said. "All parties have to give voluntary basic information and evidence." The judge also set a rhythm for what comes next. The next hearing is Nov. 30 at 1:30 p.m. After that, there will be a status conference every 30 days, with every party called back to the courtroom to keep things on track and make sure no one is delaying. ## The fight: what Boeing and UPS told the NTSB The biggest disagreement so far is over evidence. Spalding said Boeing and UPS are taking the position that because they are parties to the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation, a federal rule requires them to keep confidential what they have shared with the NTSB. That would mean they can't give plaintiffs those materials until the investigation is done. "That puts us on an indefinite timeline that could \[go\] months or even a year, depending on how long the NTSB investigation goes on," Spalding said. Plaintiffs disagree. Spalding said what the defendants are citing is a statute, not a regulation, and that a judge in Washington, D.C., has already rejected this exact argument in another plane crash case and ordered the evidence released. One of the plaintiffs' lawyers in Louisville is also a lawyer in that case. Now, Spalding said, the Louisville attorneys are asking Haner for the same thing. Spalding said the defendants are asking the NTSB for permission. The open question now is whether Haner waits to see what the NTSB says or rules on his own that the companies must hand the evidence over. "If you're a victim in this lawsuit, you shouldn't just have to wait an indefinite amount of time to figure out what exactly happened and why your loved one died," Spalding said. Will any of this end in a settlement? Not yet, Spalding said. Plaintiffs aren't open to those conversations until they see the evidence. "We would be making decisions without a full deck of cards," he said. Shay Informed has asked UPS, Boeing and VT San Antonio Aerospace for comment on the lawsuits. At this time, I have not heard back. The next hearing is Nov. 30 at 1:30 p.m. [A year later, the UPS crash lawsuits are still waiting to beginInside the court fight that will decide how fast Louisville’s UPS crash cases move, and what the wait costs the people who lived it. Every day, UPS planes take off and land at Louisville's airport. It’s business as usual for the parcel shipment company. But for the![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8c/19/8c19890d-f21a-4442-8055-5db9783cac58/content/images/icon/Profile-Pic_2-copy-bf4dee39-65c8-43cd-ab75-e12b486aba7b.png)Shay InformedShay McAlister![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8c/19/8c19890d-f21a-4442-8055-5db9783cac58/content/images/thumbnail/atm-a55526f2-98ab-4f01-b58a-c4db04e3f815.jpg)](https://www.shayinformed.com/a-year-later-the-ups-crash-lawsuits-are-still-waiting-to-begin/) *Like what you see? Learn more about Shay Informed* [*here*](https://www.shayinformed.com/welcome-to-shay-informed/)*! This is honest journalism with compassion and clarity.*