EU high court upholds airline passenger rights legislation News
EU high court upholds airline passenger rights legislation

[JURIST] The European Court of Justice [official website] on Tuesday upheld a law [text] that requires airlines to pay compensation to passengers [JURIST report] who experience long flight delays, overbooking and cancellation on flights to and from the European Union. The International Air Transport Association [group website] and the European Low Fares Airline Association [group website; press release, PDF] had challenged the EU regulation, arguing the law was too costly to implement and some conditions were outside of the airlines' control. Under the law, passengers may be compensated up to $725 (600 euros) if they are denied a seat because of overbooking. In other cases, airlines must provide food, lodging or a trip back to the point of departure. The court ruled [judgment; press release, PDF] that the regulation does not violate the Montreal Convention [text] and does not violate the principle of proportionality. View the EU air passenger rights website. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.