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Furman is a former Deputy Director for Public Affairs at the National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB). His public service at the NTSB began during the waning months
of the Carter Administration and continued during President Reagan's two terms in
office. As principal spokesman for the federal Safety Board, he was on the scene for the investigation of major transportation accidents that ranged from widely known ones such as the Air Florida crash into the Potomac; the Delta Airlines windshear accident in Dallas; a fatal crash at Boston's Logan Airport; and the mid-air DC-9 collision over a Los Angeles suburb, to many, many lesser-known accidents all over the country. He even represented the Safety Board in connection with its assistance to NASA for the investigation of the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster. Furman also worked at passenger and cargo rail accident sites, ranging from New York City to Livingston, Louisiana. In that latter case, involving derailment of a hazardous materials train, he developed an accident investigation technique to prove that the intoxicated train crew allowed the train to operate above authorized safe track speeds. As the NTSB's spokesman, Furman had a major role in bringing about changes to the Federal Railroad Administration's permissive attitude toward alcohol and drug use by railroad engineers and other crew members. In September 1985 his efforts were recognized with a special government award for inspiring new federal regulations prohibiting alcohol and drug abuse in railroad operations. Since leaving the NTSB, Furman has used his unique background in the investigation of aircraft accidents to assist in news coverage of aviation disasters. As a news consultant he broadcast live via satellite from Lockerbie, Scotland, scene of the tragic Pan Am explosion, and from the Long Island site of the crash of the Avianca aircraft that ran out of fuel on its way to JFK International. He also worked on-scene after a miraculous DC-10 crash-landing in Sioux City, Iowa, at a US Air runway collision in Los Angeles, and other accidents at New York's LaGuardia Airport. He was a consultant for CBS News in connection with the mid-air fuel-tank explosion of TWA Flight 800. In order to provide his clients who are the victims of air crashes and other accident- related injuries with the financial and intellectual resources of a premiere law firm, Furman has associated with the Rapoport Law Offices, a Chicago-based law firm with an international reputation for assisting victims of air disasters. Furman's close association with the Rapoport firm is in what is known as an "of counsel" capacity, whereby his litigation and investigative background supplements their already exceptional representation of victims, or their family members, of personal injury or wrongful death. Furman has also involved himself in pro bono (without compensation) efforts on behalf of aviation safety. He provided legal counsel to an airline employee and brought to light dramatic evidence of consistent fraud in safety procedures and record keeping by Eastern Air Lines. His presentation of this evidence to the Federal Aviation Administration and the Justice Department was instrumental in the federal indictments of airline officials and the closing of Eastern. Additional pro bono efforts in furtherance of public safety include Furman giving his time to testify as an expert before the United States Senate Aviation Subcommittee about shortcomings in Federal Aviation Administration management of aviation safety. He also provided free consultation on proposed air safety legislation to the then-ranking member of the Committee. |
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