NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Sept. 10, 2003--A ruling by a federal judge that allows lawsuits by the families of victims killed at the World Trade Center and Pentagon in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to proceed against AMR Corp. and unit American Airlines Inc. (both rated B-/Negative/--) and United Air Lines Inc., as well as other parties, has no implications for Standard&Poor's Ratings Services' ratings or outlooks on the companies. American's and United's potential liability for damages relating to loss of life and property damage at the crash sites was capped at the airlines' then-existing insurance coverage under September 2001 federal airline legislation. Continued litigation will, however, entail some legal costs, management attention, and possibly negative publicity,
