[Txsleuth]

TWO WORDS: Tort Reform

[Rodney King]

Even if we accept for the sake of argument that the woman was wronged, to assert that she is due 27.5 million is absurd. I would happily go through that ordeal for 50K.

[Mikey_1962]

You won't see this episode on "AIRLINE"...

[Michael.SF.]

Interesting what a google search turns up on Samantha Carrington

[2banana]

Why don't we just give all our money to muslims and kill ourselves - that is where our crazy PC culture is going anyways...

[WideGlide]

I'm guessing that an Air Marshall should have capped her ass when she started squawking in the aisle thus saving everybody a bunch of aggravation.

[pabianice]

Insanity.

[kittymyrib]

El Paso...Mexican judge and jury. They hope to hit the lawsuit lottery themselves someday.

[gathersnomoss]

Bring your lawyers, guns and money.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Appeal it and throw this crap outta court! Profiling is a valid technique, dammit.

[Publius6961]

"The verdict was not based on all the available facts because those facts were not presented to the jury for their consideration."

It is the most profound and maddening irony that the jury can be profiled, and normal people rejected, but a potential terrorist cannot be...

[Daytyn71]

The Verdict is completely absurd and should be reduced on appeal. In light of the happenings on September 11th, I don't know how a Jury would justify such a verdict. What a bunch of Dimwits.

Are Southwest Employees going to stop engaging Muslim passengers acting suspiciously for fear of being sued. Now everyone's safety is at risk.

What a disgrace!!

[Centurion2000]

EL PASO — A jury awarded $27.5 million in damages to a woman of Iranian descent who alleged she was racially profiled when Southwest Airlines accused her of assaulting a flight attendant and interfering with a flight crew.

What a complete load of crap! If I was the CEO of Southwest you can be sure that someone would have a fatal accident soon. Hitmen are cheaper than lawyers.

[Sloth]

So what did the other passengers say?

[freedom44]

-A little excessive no? At least she endorsed President Bush economic plan

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030212-2.html

Text of a Letter to the President

The Honorable George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Bush:

We enthusiastically endorse your economic growth and jobs proposal. It is fiscally responsible and it will create more employment, economic growth, and opportunities for all Americans. Moreover, it will improve corporate accountability and strengthen the nation's international competitiveness.

Sincerely,

Samantha Carrington, California State University at Los Angeles

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Wonder who was on the jury.

[rabidralph]

I hope she doesn't blow it all on lottery tickets.

[Grut]

"We certainly don't agree with this particular verdict," spokeswoman Beth Harbin told the newspaper. "The verdict was not based on all the available facts because those facts were not presented to the jury for their consideration."

Then the Airline's complaint is not with the verdict but the quality of their own council. I find it interesting that so many Freepers automatically assume that the airline's behavior couldn't possibly have been 27.5 million dollars worth of bad: why not give the jury the benefit of the doubt?

[untenured]

According to court records, three flight attendants said Carrington, a naturalized citizen from Iran, became verbally abusive during the flight, grabbed the arm of one flight attendant and threatened to go to the cockpit if the captain was not summoned.

I think I was a teaching assistant for this woman when I was in graduate school. Let's just say I'm not shocked that she would be involved in an incident such as this.

[Jaysun]

I suppose they could move disgruntled Middle Eastern people to first class and slip out to get them a cocktail as they "jump out of the plane without notice or provocation.."