US lawyers gearing up for filing MH370 lawsuits as 45 days waiting period ends

Families of the passengers in the missing MH370 plane can now file a lawsuit in American courts against U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co.

The move is a milestone because it now allows attorneys to move in.

There is a 45-day federal law that says American lawyers have to wait that long to reach out to a family that has lost a loved one in a plane crash, CNN reports.

Now as the search for the plane has entered 46th day families can now file suit in American courts against U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co.

The only problem: No wreckage has been found.

Some relatives of those on board the missing plane said they hope legal avenues can bring new information to light.

According to the report, the Montreal Convention governs such matters. Under international law, families can sue in the country where the passengers bought the ticket, where the airline is based or their final destination.

Because of the plane's flight path, most of the lawsuits against Malaysia Airlines would be filed in China or Malaysia.

The families of the three Americans who were on board the Boeing 777 can also sue Malaysia Airlines in U.S. courts.

Kelly, an attorney at Ribbeck Law Chartered, a firm that specializes in aviation accident cases, said she believes that families could receive between 400,000 dollars and 3 million dollars in damages, the report said.

However, it could take two years before they see the money, she said.