AirTran Suit Seeks At Least $100,000 (Atlanta Airport Security Fiasco)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 27 November 2001 | NANCY FONTI and CRAIG SCHNEIDER

[NautiNurse]

AirTran Airways has filed a federal lawsuit against the man who breached security at Hartsfield International Airport, saying he acted "maliciously and in bad faith."

AirTran, which operates an Atlanta hub, filed a complaint against Michael Shane Lasseter on Monday in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Georgia.

Ben Gray / AJC Michael Shane Lasseter

AirTran general counsel Richard Magurno said the airline will seek at least $100,000 in damages.

AirTran officials last week said the closing of the airport cost it more than $1 million, but the airline is still calculating total costs.

After the breach, airport officials shut down the airport, forcing AirTran and other airlines operating at Hartsfield to ground airplanes and cancel and divert flights.

AirTran says Lasseter was negligent by not turning himself in after the airport was shut down.

"We think people have to be responsible for what they do," Magurno said. "It's one thing for him to run through security. It's another thing when thousands of people are evacuated and he did nothing."

Shortly after Lasseter went down the "up" escalator on Nov. 16, officials shut down Hartsfield for three hours while they searched for him. Lasseter said he was running to get to his 6-year-old son who was waiting with an uncle.

Lasseter could not be reached for comment at his home Monday evening. In earlier interviews, he said he didn't see the guards near the escalators and was not aware of the security alert until 45 minutes after he ran down the escalator.

He also has said he did not know the alert was directed at him.

Lasseter's attorney, Richard Lipman, called the suit "the most dastardly exploitative, irresponsible and senseless action I could imagine taken by any plaintiff, let alone an image-starved corporate giant against an individual. They don't have the facts."

Delta Air Lines, which operates a large Atlanta hub, has not sued Lasseter. Delta last week said that the shut down cost it between $6 million and $8 million.

"We are reviewing the matter," a spokesman said Monday.

In addition to the AirTran complaint, Lasseter also faces criminal charges of disorderly conduct, and authorities are considering other charges.

[NautiNurse]

I hope that other airlines and passengers follow suit and file suit.

[Fred Mertz]

Why don't they sue the idiot, wussy, pansy, candy-a$$ Chicken Littles who are charged with security. What a joke, those idiots shut down an airport for three hours. Sue the idiots who deserve it for their stupidity, not Joe Cameraman.

[NorthGA]

This suit is ridiculous. Even with over-reaction from the authorities, he should not have run through security.

But if I am speeding (or doing something else "wrong") on the interstate and cause an accident - I should not be sued by everyone who was inconvenienced and delayed.

Sometimes life happens - this is a risk of doing business as an airline company.

Will the airline next sue the oil companies for raising prices that cost them money also?

[KirklandJunction]

Malice?
Stupid, yes, and many other descriptive words come to mind, but how do you prove intent or desire to cause harm?
Maybe Georgia law has unique wrinkles, anyone know?

[Blueflag]

OK, let's get back to real facts on this case. (as reported to me by someone who actually KNOWS Lassiter, and from years of frequent travel in and out of Hartsfield). If you travel the Atlanta airport, you are familiar with where this incident happen. When you get off the train at the baggage claim/terminal stop (the last stop on the train), there are escalators that take you up to the concourse.

At the bottom of the escalators there are no signs telling you you are about to leave the secure area of the airport, or anything like "If you go up the escalators, you MUST re-enter the airport through security." Nothing like that. So, Mr. Lassiter had no warning he was about to violate the security perimeter.

At the top of the escalators there is a area I would guess is about 50' X 30' you walk through before you visibly enter the concourse. There is a line of tape on the floor that greeters must wait behind to meet folks getting off the escalator. Again, no sign indicating you have just left a secure area. At the top of the escalators, about 20' away from the top, on the left and the right are two private 'security guards', in my experieince two elderly gentlemen or some sleepy woman. I have NEVER noticed a sidearm or even pepper spray, only a radio. The only actions in the security role I have ever seen them take is to tell folks to back up behind the line, or say "no, you cannot go down here, you gotta go through at security" They have also helped folks exit the elevator.

Mr. Lassiter came up the escalator, saw where he was, DID NOT EXIT the immediate escalator area in to the concourse, did NOT push a guard. He just made the mistake, error, etc., of realizing he wasn't where he wanted to be, could not get where he wanted to be and went BACK DOWN the escalator the wrong way. THERE IS/WAS NO SIGN instructing anyone that such an action would breach security. He has a legitimate point that he did not realize he was the one who so seriously breached security that the airport had to be shut down. HE was wrong.

I see this as the Atlanta airport authority getting caught with their pants down becasue they had inadequate security and bad procedures in place.

Sue the freakin' airport, not Lassiter. There is a reason the ONLY charges against him were disorderly conduct.

[bvw]

Aw Gee, the airlines are already getting 9/11 funny money grants of 5 billion, and another 10 bill in funny money "loans" (wink-win-nudge-nudge "loans").

And that's "Funny Money" directly from the bottomless fiat money pocket of the Treasury.

Fer all that, WE get nazi-central "security", which pokes and probes our every compartment for hours on hours, no matter how unlikely it is that we are terrorist material, flights where going to pee in the last thirty minutes is a major felony, and airports run by the Ministry of Fear.

But that ain't enuff! Now they wnat the life savings of everyday folks -- real, hard-earned money -- not Federal Fiat money.

The Taliban need to talk to the Chinese about "Wu Wei" for it seems WE are our own worst possible afflication.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Actually, just such a lawsuit (airlines vs. Citgo, et al) is quite likely. Yesterday's WSJ mentioned it and I think it was mentioned on this page, too.
The guy better check his liability insurance coverage in any case.

[NautiNurse]

Over-reaction by security? Honestly, I don't see what other option airport security had than to shut down and evacuate after the guy breached security and disappeared on a train to any one of the six terminals. If you had witnessed the event, would you prefer to play roulette that the man wasn't carrying a bomb or grenade--or that it would be ok if he was, as long as it wasn't your plane?

If he slips by with a slapped wrist--what would keep a thousand others from doing the same thing?

[KirklandJunction]

Huh?
Did I say a thing about over-reaction?
I was wondering about the legal term "malice". In my state that suggests he desired to see others suffer or that he intended to cause harm without having any excuse.
I don't see anything in the media reports that suggests "malice".

[bvw]

Yes, ten thousand things short of the hysterical overreaction could have and should have been done.

[bvw]

Where are the thousand others? Where? That's your own mania speaking.

[NautiNurse]

Interesting story. Where did he think he left his camera bag? It's been a few months since I went up those escalators. Isn't there an intercom system that welcomes you to Atlanta, yada, yada? No message you are leaving a secured area on that recording? If not, there should be.

[NautiNurse]

My mistake--that was NorthGA who referenced over-reaction, and I omitted the name in the reply.

[supercat]

Honestly, I don't see what other option airport security had than to shut down and evacuate after the guy breached security and disappeared on a train to any one of the six terminals.

Since the authorities should have radios that should spread the message of this guy's actions thousands of times faster than he could actually move, it should be possible to quickly isolate part of the airport and keep that part functional while other parts are swept. Even before recent events this sort of thing happened often enough (every few years) that airports should have put plans in place to deal with it without massive disruption.

[NautiNurse]

Would be interested to hear a couple of your ten thousand things that could have been done.

[NautiNurse]

Good point. I did wonder whether there is a master switch near security to shut down the train system. That would limit the movement through that airport to the tunnel.

[Blueflag]

BEar in mind that while he did technically breach security, he did not physically breach security. He popped up, looked and went back down. He had no opportunity to get a bomb or greande, etc. He did not enter the airport without passing through security.

BTW, the same thing could happen on the T concourse, except its a walk through area. Again, no signs, but there are two National Guard soldiers on duty there ...

TO your other question, the recorded voice on the train does not state you will be leaving a secure area.

The voice does tell you not to smoke, however, which is the FAR greater evil.

[bvw]

One is that someone who reacts in crisises like you do gets a job off the line.

[NautiNurse]

Your hate rings loud and clear. Maybe one day you will have solutions.

[bvw]

What hate are you tallking about? Your hysterical overreaction? That's not hate, just consideration for safety and living as normal as life as one may under the circumstances.

As far as the arrow of hate points, I might suggest you look to your own desires with regard to a man who merely ran down the up escalator in order to retrieve hundreds of dollars of his own photgraphy equipment that he had momentarily forgotten. You evidently want he and his family completely ruined. Would that be hate now?

[TheOtherOne]

Mr. Lassiter came up the escalator, saw where he was, DID NOT EXIT the immediate escalator area in to the concourse, did NOT push a guard. He just made the mistake, error, etc., of realizing he wasn't where he wanted to be, could not get where he wanted to be and went BACK DOWN the escalator the wrong way. THERE IS/WAS NO SIGN instructing anyone that such an action would breach security. He has a legitimate point that he did not realize he was the one who so seriously breached security that the airport had to be shut down. HE was wrong.

All nice and well, except Mr. Lassiter himself stated that he purposely went that way to avoid a security check-point. So with those facts, all your detail is meaningless.

[bvw]

He went that way to have a chance at recovering his equipment, his motivation was urgent, he was no security risk, he did what he had to do in his best judgement at the time. The particulars of the scene at the time are important, they are better gauges of his mental state at the time that his own later words after the glare of the media and the consequences -- consequences which, as they were based on nearly irrational judgements on the part of the authorities, were absoluetly unpredicable.

[TheOtherOne]

He went that way to have a chance at recovering his equipment, his motivation was urgent, he was no security risk, he did what he had to do in his best judgement at the time.

Wrong. He said he went that way on his way back to the gate after failing to recover the camera. He said he did not think he had time to go through security again. (since he knew he wasn't a risk) He figured it would be okay to skip the security and go directly back to the gate. His mistake, and it was a big one. He lame excuse now about rushing back for his son, is absolutely ridiculous. His son was safely with his uncle. His lying after the fact is not gaining any sympathy from me.

In terms of his liability, he is probably not responsible for the damages. But nevertheless, he will be what is called "damage proof" after the first suit anyway, should one be sucessful. He does deserve at least a fine or community service as punishment for his intentional and negligent actions.

[TheOtherOne]

The particulars of the scene at the time are important, they are better gauges of his mental state at the time that his own later words after the glare of the media and the consequences -- consequences which, as they were based on nearly irrational judgements on the part of the authorities, were absoluetly unpredicable.

Sounds like the words of an appologist. What about his responsibility for his actions?

[bvw]

If so it was misjudgement -- still, air travel is a setting that misjudgements are more common in, people are rushed, the discomfort in airplanes numbs and unsettles the mind, everyone is a stranger and a transient, there is a lot of hustle and bustle.

In other words airport security management must consider and allow for everyday people to make misjudgements, to make mistakes, yet still be able to deal with such misjudgements appropriately, rationally, and without panic.

[GWSTILL1]

I have to use this forum to vent.

I was on Continental Flight 1821 when this IDIOT purposely breached security.

We were loaded and pushed back from the gate.

Subsequently, I was unloaded, escorted from the airport by the national guard, and stuck in the parking lot for 4 hours, until I could re-enter the airport, and take 2 more hous to go throough X-Ray, and board a flight for home by a miracle.

As a consequence, I broke a HUGE family promise I had made to my children and their friends, months before, for that particular Friday evening. Even though I took precautions, arrived 2 hours early for my flight, this mental freakin' midget caused me grief as I let my children down.

I hope he gets sued by everyone in the airport, and his legal bills become huge. His ridiculous and unforgivable actions caused me personal suffering, but it was nothing compared to the physical suffering of the numerous senior citizens that were COLLAPSED in the tunnel system becasue they couldn't make the nearly 1 mile walk in the overheated tunnels becasue of overcrowding, not to mention the stress of the SWAT teams and armed national guard running everywhere.

Stupid actions can lead to bad consequences, let this be a lesson to Bozo. Too bad now he's acting like our old CIC and making up stupid stories instead of fessing up and apologizing.

[FR_addict]

OK, let's get back to real facts on this case.

Thanks for the information. It should never have been so easy to get through a secure area. If the up escalator was so important to security, a guards should have been posted there.

[Blueflag]

You missed his point. He was trying to NOT bust security. My point and detail are not meaningless because he did not break physical security, just arbitrary security. I do not hold him blameless. I DO hold the airport culpable.

You ever been to that point in Hartsfield? You'd never know you weren't in a secure area. Compare it to LGA where it is VERY obvious when you leave security.

[bvw]

We were loaded and pushed back from the gate.

Then there was no reason to not let your flight continue. Everyone on had already been screened.

nothing compared to the physical suffering of the numerous senior citizens that were COLLAPSED in the tunnel system becasue they couldn't make the nearly 1 mile walk in the overheated tunnels becasue of overcrowding.

Certainly an un-paniced management could have made better provisions to move these people where they had to go at the time.

the SWAT teams and armed national guard running everywhere

Why were they running anywhere, much less everywhere? ONE man went down the up escalator. That results in a riotious commotion amoung the guards who we would want to be steady and methodical?

Your anger is misdirected. But the airlines have been successful in spinning this bad PR -- intead of you, the aggreived, the harassed, the damaged, holding them to account, so that they, the airlines, might then hold the airport and secuirty managment to account. (The only account that will be effective, btw, in stopping this kind of thing from happening again and again.) So you join the incompetent and big to pick on the weak? It's no benefit to you or anyone else to do so. You won't get any money to speak of, even should you personally join the suit, and instead of helping correct such situations, you're leaving the cause -- incomptent, overreacting, panicky management to their station, uncorrected.

[NautiNurse]

I found your account very interesting and plausible, yet something was nagging at my memory. Haunted By Mistake... stated, "Needing a duplicate ticket to get back to the gate, Lasseter said he went to a ticket counter, asking the agent to help him, and do it in a hurry. When he got no satisfaction there, authorities say, he pushed his way by two security guards as he barrelled the wrong way down the escalator.

Not true, Lasseter said. Not only did he not push a guard, he said, he never saw any guards there." Sounds as though he did physically leave the secured area if he was at a ticket counter before the escalator. He only denied pushing guards, not the ticket counter event.

[Blueflag]

I agree it is a confusing account. There are ticket counters at various places INSIDE the secure parts of the airport. BUT, if he did indeed go to a ticket counter in themain terminals, then he did bust security, big time, andhe had to know better. The escalators 'up' are not near the security entrance 'in'.

The story parts you referenced do say "authorities stated" and Lassiter denied what the guards said.

Having been there many times, I cannot imagine the guards moving fast enough to stop a fast moving person, as they tend to sit on each side of the open areas at the top of the eascalotrs; and these escalators are no where near the ticket counters.

WHen the truth does come out in sworn testimony, backed up by security camera tapes, I think we'll find out that fundamentally, security was inadequate at the escalators from stopping a person from doing something stupid or dangerous. You COULD NOT do this anywhere else in the airport. THIS was an obvious weak point violated by a novice flyer.

I just don't see it as being worth going after him for money. Fine him. Ticket him; jail him for what he actually did. But sue him??? NO way.

[supercat]

. His ridiculous and unforgivable actions caused me personal suffering...

This is hardly the first time this sort of thing has happened. Having to shut down an entire airport for hours when something like this happens is ludicrous, and I am bewildered by airports' continuing failure to plan for it.

What the airports should do is have an alarm system where any security breach anywhere will trigger an alarm that will sound throughout the airport. When the alarm sounds, everyone will be told to remain where they are, and passage between different parts of the airport will be temporarily forbidden. If the alarm is sounded 10 seconds after a breach, and security personnel manage to "lock down" their areas within 35 seconds of the alarm sounding, then it would only be necessary to clear the areas the person could have reached within 45 seconds; once everyone was cleared out of those areas, the rest of the airport could reopen while those areas were swept and any passengers who were there rescreened.

Still a mess, to be sure, but clearing 1/4 of a large airport is a lot better than having to clear the whole thing.

I'm still bewildered, though, by why this guy's having boarded a train was a "bad thing" for security. It should have been very easy to stop the train at the next stop and search all the people on it without disrupting other airport functions. Why could they not do so?