Judges and colleagues commemorate the attorneys who perished in the plane crash in Washington, D.C.
On Wednesday evening, a devastating accident occurred when an American Airlines passenger plane collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. The collision resulted in both aircraft crashing into the Potomac River, leaving all 64 passengers aboard American Eagle Flight 5342 and the three U.S. service members on the helicopter presumed dead.
Among the victims were two associates from Wilkinson Stekloff, a respected litigation firm based in D.C. Sarah Lee Best and Elizabeth Keys, both 33, were travelling home after a deposition. Tragically, the incident took place on what was also Keys’s birthday.
The Victims: Sarah Lee Best and Elizabeth Keys
Sarah Lee Best, who had been with Wilkinson Stekloff for less than a year, was a summa cum laude graduate of Vanderbilt University, where she earned a double major in Neuroscience and Classical Languages. After teaching high school math and working as an instructional coach, she went on to Penn Law, graduating summa cum laude in 2021. Best had clerked for several judges, including Judges Eugene Siler (6th Cir.), Paul Diamond (E.D. Pa.), and John Cronan (S.D.N.Y.) before joining the firm.
Elizabeth Keys, also 33, graduated from Tufts University in 2014 and later attended Georgetown Law, graduating in 2020. After working in management consulting in various countries, she clerked for Judge Amy Berman Jackson (D.D.C.). Keys was well-regarded for her commitment to pro bono work, earning recognition through inclusion on the D.C. Court of Appeals’ Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll.
As David Seidman, Keys’s partner, told The American Lawyer, the evening had started with excitement. “It was a client matter and they ended up wrapping up earlier, and she was super excited to go back to D.C. so we could celebrate her birthday,” he said.
A Devastating Loss for Wilkinson Stekloff
In a statement, Beth Wilkinson, the firm’s founder, expressed profound sorrow at the loss of both lawyers:
“We are heartbroken by this terrible tragedy. Liz and Sarah were cherished members of our firm—wonderful attorneys, colleagues, and friends. Beyond being excellent lawyers, Liz brought fearlessness, humor, and sharp wit to work every day, no matter the setting or circumstances. Sarah joined us just last fall and quickly energized us all with her boundless curiosity, kindness, and intelligence. It is hard to imagine the firm without them. We are keeping them in our memories and their families in our thoughts and prayers.”
Sarah Lee Best (left) and Elizabeth Keys (courtesy photos via Wilkinson Stekloff)
Kiah Duggins: Another Lawyer Lost in the Crash
In addition to Best and Keys, Kiah Duggins, a 30-year-old attorney with the Civil Rights Corps, was also among the victims. Duggins, a graduate of Wichita State University and Harvard Law School, had been president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. A friend, Lacey Cruse, shared a heartfelt tribute to Duggins on Facebook: “A brave and beautiful soul, a light in the fight for civil rights. Her loss is heartbreaking, not only for her family and friends but for everyone who believes in justice and equality. May her work, her message, and her spirit continue to inspire and create change. Gone too soon but never forgotten.”
A Tragic Event that Has Shaken the Legal Community
This tragic accident has not only devastated the families of the victims but has sent shockwaves through the legal profession. The loss of these young, talented individuals is felt deeply by their colleagues, friends, and the communities they served. As the investigation into the crash continues, the memory of Sarah Lee Best, Elizabeth Keys, and Kiah Duggins will live on through their work and the positive impact they made during their all-too-short careers.
