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Another buffet victim sues an airline

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GogglesPisano

Pawn, in game of life
Joined
Oct 20, 2003
Posts
3,939
Two Seats Needed? 300-Pound Woman Sues Airline
Woman Removed From Plane After Refusing To Buy Second Ticket

POSTED: 10:15 am CST February 8, 2006
UPDATED: 11:25 am CST February 8, 2006

CONCORD, N.H. -- A discrimination trial began Tuesday in the case of a 300-pound Exeter, N.H., woman who sued Southwest Airlines after she was kicked off a flight when she refused to purchase two seats for herself.

Much of Nadine Thompson's original complaint was thrown out by a federal judge on Monday. But her attorneys said that they believe they still have a strong case.

"I'm hoping that justice will be served and hoping to get a fair case," Thompson said. "It's been painful."

In June 2003, Thompson boarded a Southwest flight to Nashville. Seeing that her legs and hip protruded onto the next seat, a supervisor told Thompson she'd have to purchase another ticket.

The airline has a standard policy for "customers of size," but Thompson said no one at the ticket counter mentioned it. She said that she showed that she could safely put down the armrest and refused to buy another seat.

While being removed by security, Thompson said that she told other passengers she was being kicked off, "either because I'm too fat or too black or just a woman."

After Thompson was escorted off the Southwest Flight by sheriff's deputies, she went to United Airlines to buy another fare. She said she was only charged for one seat.

The judge ruled that there wasn't enough evidence to sustain claims of racial bias or emotional distress. Thompson will have to argue that Southwest employees deliberately misapplied the airline's policy.

Although it is a more narrow argument, her lawyers said they think it's their best one.

"We're now very, very happy that we have eight jurors seated so Nadine can tell her story of discrimination," attorney Alfred Saggese Jr. said.

An attorney for Southwest Airlines declined to comment. The trial was expected to run through the week.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 
GogglesPisano said:
Two Seats Needed? 300-Pound Woman Sues Airline

...

While being removed by security, Thompson said that she told other passengers she was being kicked off, "either because I'm too fat or too black or just a woman."
Must... resist... the urge.......

:puke:

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!


I wonder which one of those three things caused her to spread into a second seat? I don't think the color of the ham shank was the problem, ma'am.

What, do you think you can show up at the Toyota dealership, claim your ass is too wide for a Corolla, and demand a Sequoia for the same price, because it's the only thing your ass will fit into?

Un-freakin'-believable, these people. Thank you, Southwest, for having the balls to do what United wouldn't.
 
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How did she get on, I thought SWA's policy made them pay for two seats at the ticket counter, I don't feel she should have been kicked off if she made it on.
 
The next time I'm stuck in the middle seat next to "2-Ton Tessie", I think I'll sue for emotional distress and violation of my personal space for having to endure flab and fat assault. How does this cow think she has the right to demand other passengers give up part of their purchased space to accomodate her wide-idity?! I've sat next to one of them, and believe me it ain't a comfortable experience. It's not fair to the rest of us, and Southwest has the guts to do something about it. I hope the judge rules in their favor, and admonishes the woman "to refrain from airline travel until you try a salad for once in your self-indulged life!"
 
Can you screen every person for seat dimension fitability? Yes. What they should have at the counter, is a chair with aluminum bars in place so that if fat spills out, you have to buy another ticket. Put it next to the carry-on sizer,
 
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I'm told that SWA only asks the "husky" ones to purchase an extra ticket if its a full flight.
 
I used to work for WN years ago in a capacity that put me right in the middle of this debate.

We were very fair. If the flight wasn't full, we would allow Big Bertha a her own row. If it came down to a full flight (clearing SBs, etc), we would force her/him to buy another seat as it is only fair. I got a fair share of lip lashings, but at least the company backed me up on the decisions I made. It's for the comfort of everyone, but those overweight just don't see that....Unbelievable!!
 

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