Jonathan E. DeMay

Partner, New York

T: 212.894.6816 F: 212.370.4483
E: jdemay@nullcondonlaw.com  vCard

Jonathan E. DeMay

Jon is an aviation litigator who closely collaborates with clients to develop creative solutions to complex disputes.

Jon primarily focuses on major accident, high-value wrongful death, and complex commercial litigation. He has represented airlines and aircraft manufacturers, component manufacturers and maintenance companies in federal and state courts throughout the U.S. at both the trial and appellate levels.

With invaluable industry experience in representing his clients, Jon’s notable work includes:

  • Obtaining dismissal of a putative class action against an airline alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 relating to website accessibility.
  • Obtaining dismissal of a putative consumer class action and related appeal against an airline pursuant to the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.
  • Successfully representing an aircraft manufacturer in litigation by an airline seeking to avoid the application of a contractual consequential damages disclaimer to recover damages relating to the suspension of operations of an aircraft fleet.
  • Assisting an airline in resolving a dispute with a bank about the improper withholding of in excess of $20 million in revenue from passenger ticket sales pursuant to a credit card processing agreement.
  • Obtaining dismissal of website accessibility lawsuit against an airline alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
  • Leading damages team in defending a component manufacturer in a commercial Arbitration arising from an aircraft fire event.
  • Leading the damages team in defending a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of an ultra-high net worth decedent seeking $900 million in damages involving complex commercial litigation issues arising from a Gulfstream G-IV aircraft accident.
  • Leading the team defending an airline in a commercial breach of contract litigation seeking in excess of $30 million resulting in a favorable settlement.
  • Leading the damages team defending Colgan Air in the February 2009 Flight 3407 accident litigation.
  • Leading the team representing an ultra-high net worth individual in a Gulfstream G-400 aircraft lease dispute involving contested aircraft maintenance charges resulting in a favorable settlement.
  • Assisting an airline in responding to an IT failure that resulted in an operations disruption that affected thousands of passengers and flights.
  • Having a significant role in the team representing American Airlines in the November 2001 Flight 587 accident litigation.
  • Representing aircraft manufacturers relating to aircraft sales transactions, including litigation seeking the enforcement of guarantee agreements and an airline’s default on aircraft payments.

Jon has lectured at aviation and insurance seminars relating to a variety of issues, including issues and tactics relating to commercial litigation, ultra-high net worth wrongful death litigation, crisis management, forum non conveniens, and defending major aviation accident litigation. He is a Vice Chair and Newsletter Editor of The American Bar Association, Aviation and Space Law Committee.  Jon is consistently listed as Leading Aviation Attorney by Who’s Who Legal: Transport – Aviation Contentious.

At Fordham University School of Law, he served as a Staff Member of the Fordham Urban Law Journal and Judicial Intern to The Honorable Kevin T. Duffy, Senior District Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Published Works and Presentations

“In-Flight Sexual Misconduct: Congressional Action and Air Carrier Liability,” 2019 ABA Forum on Air & Space Law Annual Conference (Seattle, Washington, September 13, 2019).  (co-authors Marissa N. Lefland and Constantine J. Petallides).

Panel Moderator, “Sexual Misconduct at Altitude,” 2019 ABA Forum on Air & Space Law Annual Conference (Seattle, Washington, September 13, 2019).

Speaker, AON Aviation Seminar (September 2016). Jon gave the following presentation: An Introduction to Aspects of the U.S. Legal System.

“Expansion of Preemption and Congress’s Intent to Occupy Entire Field of Air Safety,” ABA Section of Litigation (February 24, 2016) (available at https://apps.americanbar.org/litigation/committees/masstorts/practice.html).

Speaker, AON Aviation Seminar (September 2015). Jon gave the following presentation: An Introduction to Aspects of the U.S. Legal System.

Speaker, “An Overview of the Risks and Benefits of Social Media in Aviation,” Lloyd’s of London in the Old Library (December 2, 2014).

Speaker, American Conference Institute 5th Annual Forum on Defending and Managing Aviation Claims & Litigation (Chicago, May 29, 2013). Jon participated in the following panel discussion: Crisis Management: Advising Your Clients on Controlling the Corporate Message and Limiting Negative Exposure.

Speaker, Eighth Annual Northwestern Law Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property Symposium (Chicago, March 8, 2013). Jon participated in the following panel discussion: The Past, Present and Future of Social Media.

Speaker, Federal Bar Council presentation (New York, December 5, 2012). Jon participated in the following panel discussion: The Effective Use of Social Media In and Out of the Courtroom: How to be “Liked” by the Judge and Jury.

Speaker, American Conference Institute 4th Annual Forum on Defending and Managing Aviation Litigation (Boston, June 27, 2012). Jon participated in the following panel discussion: Innovative Pre-Trial and Trial Strategies for Defending Against Aviation Claims: Managing E-Discovery, Using Expert Witnesses and Communicating with the Jury.

Speaker, JLT Aviation Seminar (London, June 20, 2012). Jon gave the following presentation: An Introduction to Aspects of the U.S. Legal System & Social Media.

Speaker, AON Aviation Seminar (London, April 19, 2012). Jon gave the following presentation: An Introduction to Aspects of the U.S. Legal System & Social Media.

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by IATA and Condon & Forsyth LLP. (15th ed., February 2012).

Contributing Editor, ABA Tort Source, ABA TIPS (Fall 2011).
As a contributing editor, Jon assisted with the development, editing and publication of three articles relating to social media: “Discoverability of Social Media from the Plaintiff’s Perspective;” “The Defendant’s Perspective: Use of Social Media;” and “Admissibility and Authentication of Social Media.”

“Wrongful Death Litigation Arising Out of the Continental Connection Flight 3407 Accident: A Federal Court Compels Plaintiff to Produce a Broad Array of Damages Discovery, Including Social Media.” Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Alert (December 2011).

The Implications of the Social Media Revolution on Discovery in U.S. Litigation. American Bar Association, The Brief (v.40, no.4, Summer 2011).

“U.S. Litigation Arising Out of the Air France Flight 447 Accident Dismissed on Forum Non Conveniens Grounds for a Second Time: Another Significant Victory for Defendants.” Condon & Forsyth LLP Alert (June 2011).

“Developing trends in major airline accident litigation in the United States.” Aviation Law Committee Newsletter of the International Bar Association Legal Practice Division (v.14, no.1, June 2011).

Program Co-Chair, New York City Bar Association – ABA Section of Litigation, Aviation Litigation CLE Seminar in New York City on June 2, 2011. Jon, along with the other Program Co-Chairs, was responsible for the development of the Program, including assembling the panelists and speakers.

“Implications of the Social Media Revolution on Aviation Litigation.” ABA/TIPS Aviation and Space Law Committee Newsletter (Winter 2011).

“U.S. Litigation Arising Out of the TAM Linhas Areas Flight 3054 Accident: Another Significant Forum Non Conveniens Setback for Plaintiffs in Federal Court.” Condon & Forsyth LLP Alert (February 2011).

Participated in panel discussion, “Research Techniques and Sources in Aviation Litigation,” which addressed social media issues at the American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Aviation & Space Law Committee CLE Seminar, “Aviation and Space Law Litigation” (October 21, 2010).

“Forum Non Conveniens in Foreign Aviation Accidents: Litigating in Federal Court is Often the Difference Between Winning and Losing.” Condon & Forsyth LLP Newsletter (Fall 2010).

“U.S. Litigation Arising Out of the Air France Flight 447 Accident Dismissed on Forum Non Conveniens Grounds: A Significant Victory for Defendants.” Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Alert (October 2010).

Moderator, “Spoliation and the Duty to Preserve Evidence,” which addressed electronic discovery issues at the American Bar Association Section of Litigation Mass Torts Committee and the New York City Bar Association on Aeronautics Aviation Litigation CLE Seminar, “Disaster in the Alps!” (June 3, 2010).

Co-Author, “A Spanish Court Applies U.S. Law to Determine Liability and Damages Following Forum Non Conveniens Dismissal from the United States: Is the Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937 – DHL Airways Flight 611 Mid-Air Collision Decision a Game Changer?” IADC, Aviation and Space Law Committee Newsletter (May 2010).

“Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937-DHL Airways Flight 611 Mid-Air Collision: A Spanish Court Applies U.S. Law to Determine Liability and Damages – A Paradigm Shift as to Forum Non Conveniens or Much Ado About Nothing?” Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Newsletter (Special Edition Spring 2010)

“Electronic Discovery In Aviation Litigation: The Other Shoe Drops.” Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Bulletin (February 2010).

“Arik v. The Boeing Co.: The Latest From the Illinois Cook County Circuit Court on Forum Non Conveniens.” Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Newsletter (Special Edition Winter 2010).

“Forum Non Conveniens: Significant Developments in 2009.” Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Newsletter (Winter 2010).

Jon presented “Legal Update: Current Developments in Aviation & Insurance Law” at the American Bar Association and New York City Bar Association “Aviation on Trial!” conference in New York City on June 4, 2009.

“Cook County State Court Cases Continue to Prove Difficult to Dismiss on Forum Non Conveniens Grounds.” Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Bulletin (November 2008).

“Federal Rule of Evidence 502: A New, Uniform Set of Rules Relating to the Waiver of Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work Product Doctrine.” Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Bulletin (September 2008).

Recent Developments in Aviation Law. 73 J. Air L. & Com.131 (2008). Jon also presented “Recent Developments in Aviation Law,” at the SMU Air Law Symposium in Dallas, Texas on February 21, 2008.

Contributor, The Liability Reporter. International Air Transport Association (February 2008).

“Attempts by Plaintiffs to Defeat Forum Non Conveniens Motions by Alleging Aircraft Owner or Lessor Liability.” Condon & Forsyth LLP Newsletter (Winter 2008).

“Application of the E-Discovery Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: Could They Retroactively Apply to Actions Pending Before the Amendments Went Into Effect?” Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Bulletin (December 2006).

“E-Discovery in the Future: Impending Changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.” Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Bulletin (July 2006).

“A District Attorney’s Decision Whether to Seek the Death Penalty: Toward an Improved Process.” 26 Fordham Urb. L.J. 767 (1999) (cited with approval by the Ninth Circuit Capital Punishment Handbook Ch. 2 at 309 (2006)).