[P]etitioner's 'injury-producing event' inquiry-which looks to 'the precise factual "event" that caused [cause, to] the injury'-neglects the reality that there are often multiple interrelated factual events that combine to cause any given injury," Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the majority. The flight attendant's refusal to move Hanson was also a "factual event", he noted, and so the district court had correctly held it to be a contributing factor in his death. Sterns said, "The case makes clear that even though some 'normal' operation-in this case the presence of smoke-actually causes the death, the airline can still be liable [be liable, to] if unexpected crew misconduct is a contributing factor".