United passenger launches legal action over forceful removal

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters



Thu Apr 13, 2017 | 4:12am EDT

By Alana Wise | NEW YORK

Lawyers for the passenger dragged from a United Airlines plane in Chicago filed an emergency request with an Illinois state court on Wednesday to require the carrier to preserve video recordings and other evidence related to the incident.

Citing the risk of "serious prejudice" to their client, Dr. David Dao, the lawyers want United and the City of Chicago, which runs O'Hare International Airport, to preserve surveillance videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists, and other materials related to United Flight 3411.

Chicago's Aviation Department said on Wednesday that two more officers had been placed on leave in connection with the April 9 incident, during which airport security officers dragged Dao from his seat aboard a United jet headed for Louisville, Kentucky. One officer was placed on leave on Tuesday.

Paul Callan, a civil and criminal trial lawyer in New York, said the public outcry over Dao's treatment would likely push the airline to a quick and generous settlement.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ual-passenger-idUSKBN17E1GN

[Boomer]

1. Quick and generous settlement

Yup, if they know what's good for them, United will throw a heap of money at Dr. Dao to make this go away.

[sdfernando]

3. And it will be a hell of a lot more than the $1800 that one passenger ask for to give up his seat.

[athena]

4. I'm not sure I would settle

if I got a broken nose and lost two teeth like this guy did. He does not appear to be in any kind of financial difficulty. If I were in his situation, no amount of money would make me shut up and go away.

[JenniferJuniper]

6. Not even a couple of million?

I'd let you break my nose for a couple of million.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Personally, I would not settle NOW

I would want the lawsuit to go on.
It appears he was assaulted by employees of a private law enforcement firm, the Airport's own cops, and one of the thugs
was then placed on suspension.

There is a target for damages and whatever else flits, and of course United is liable for what its cops did, not to mention their role in it. I would ask for a jury trial if possible. United will be very eager to settle by then.

It is time people stood up to this arrogance and illegal crap, and quietly settling suits is not the way to do it.

[cstanleytech]

5. Depends what the contract says and what the law itself says about it. nt

[iluvtennis]

2. Glad to see this lawsuit. Assaulting this man and dragging him down the aisle was disgusting nt

[FakeNoose]

8. That didn't take long

The lawyers are all salivating for this one. I predicted lawsuits on the day it happened.