Woman Wins $27.5 Million in Racial Profile Suit Against Southwest Airlines

April 13, 2006

  • April 13, 2006 at 12:51 pm
    Disgusted says:
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    All I can say it was a good thing she wasn\’t a terrorist. $27.5 million not a bad deal – the world we live in is just disgusting !!!

  • April 13, 2006 at 12:53 pm
    Rob says:
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    This airline can choose who and what comes on board. If this Iranian or anyone else doesn\’t like it, there is always Greyhound. SouthWest is NOT a gov\’t agency nor subject to some politically correct agenda.

    Racial profiling is LEGAL and should be encouraged when it comes to passenger safety. There were no Chinese or Black or Hispanic terrorists… Only Middle Eastern Islamic ones with increasing threats from Middle Eastern Women… I\’m glad the Flight Attendants were so well trained as to the latest warning signs.

    If it looks like a duck and talks like a duck…and starts a fight on an airliner with 130 passengers like me on it, then I doubt she would have made it off of the plane alive or at least capable of filing a frivolous lawsuit. The Capt. and crew are the SOLE persons responsible for the safety of the flight…. Not the Company, not the Feds, and not any attorney. Those Flight Attendents are there for my safety NOT some politically correct statement.

    Bully for the Flight Attendants and Bully for SouthWest… I\’ll be sure to fly you guys.

  • April 13, 2006 at 12:54 pm
    A realist says:
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    When almost 100% of all the terrorist acts committed on the planet are committed by Islamic fundementalists and the president of Iran is looking forward to destroying Isreal so that the 12th Iman can show up and bring the faithful to Allah its great to know that some kook\’s word against a whole crew\’s prevailed.

    it\’s obvious that the jury was composed of ostrichs who have no clue what\’s really going on in the rest of the world. They make us look like chumps and stooges.

    A pox on these money grubbing lawyers that value dollars over our safety on planes.

  • April 13, 2006 at 12:56 pm
    Jose says:
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    Perhaps this lady was not a political terrorist, but she, her attorney and the jury are economic terrorists!

  • April 13, 2006 at 12:58 pm
    Leviticus says:
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    Next time she gets combative set up a video shoot, chop her head off and throw it out the emergency door.

    Maybe she\’ll get lucky and kill some Amercian Infidel by landing on them from
    20,000 feet.

  • April 13, 2006 at 12:58 pm
    ad says:
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    What in Heaven\’s name is wrong with the jury? She may have committed a crime, but the jury deserves to serve time.

    AD

  • April 13, 2006 at 1:05 am
    BOHICA says:
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    I\’m sure that Southwest randomly picked out
    this passenger to hassle and fabricate charges about.

    This jury is the most pathetic and gutless jellyfish crew imanginable. Wonder how much of the award they will end up with. Probably too stupid to arrange a kickback on this insane decision.

  • April 13, 2006 at 1:07 am
    Not an adjuster says:
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    Would this be covered by an insurance policy?

  • April 13, 2006 at 1:10 am
    RedDave says:
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    You said it, Rob. Those who don\’t like it are free to walk, drive, take a bus, whatever.

  • April 13, 2006 at 1:12 am
    db says:
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    The jury was probably afraid they\’d be sued if they came back with anything but a big settlement. The only group of people I\’d consider more \”pathetic and gutless\” is Congress – when it comes to the immigration issue … HELLO ???? What part of ILLEGAL is unclear ???? Terrorism can be domestic, but after 9-11, I worry more about the imported kind. We elected a bunch of gutless wonders to run this country. Maybe this jury should be sent to Iraq to sit on Sadaam\’s trial.

  • April 13, 2006 at 1:21 am
    Congrats says:
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    Sounds like she\’s living the American Dream. Anger and disgust are the two emotions I\’m feeling right now. I pray that the decision is over-turned on appeal.

  • April 13, 2006 at 1:35 am
    Who Cares? says:
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    The gal behind the Starbuck\’s counter gave me a dirty look the other day. How much money do you think I can get?

  • April 13, 2006 at 1:36 am
    dem says:
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    No wonder Texas is still the King of Torts

    Excuse me now while I go puke…

  • April 13, 2006 at 1:41 am
    Fred says:
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    Thats a little extreme. Just throw her out at 20k ft and give her a chance to take out more than one infidel.

  • April 13, 2006 at 1:43 am
    Ray says:
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    I hate to be the Devil\’s Advocate on this, but I understand that there were no passengers who would substantiate the flight attendents stories. Also, I believe that the Iranian woman is a professional (perhaps a doctor) and probably traveling in first class. If she had committed a crime, why was she not arrested. Rather than damn the jury (although some do stupid things and the size of this award is an example) realize that your peers decided that this woman had a valid case. They just lost it when they went to tap the deep pockets out there. By the way, the woman has now been added to a watch list on the airlines and is going to have difficulties each time she flies.

    There was just an article about a fellow named Daniel Brown who has had difficulties getting on flights – he was returning with the rest of his military unit from overseas and couldn\’t make the flight because his name (and isn\’t Daniel Brown and unusual name) is on one of those watch lists, just like the 5 or 6 year old child not allowed on a plane because his name was on a list.

    Come on folks, let\’s get serious – sometimes folks do tend to over-react…

  • April 13, 2006 at 1:46 am
    actuarial wanna be says:
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    Actually according to that fine group known as the American Bar Association is the 43rd when it comes to lowest tort costs.

    WV, LA, MS, AL, HI, IL and CA have more \”favorable\” enviroments to make a living.

    Good stuff to know

  • April 13, 2006 at 1:54 am
    Never fly Southwest says:
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    I guess it was up to the jury to decide the verdict after listening all of the facts. Judging about the situation based on a short article is nothing more than a speculation.

    The woman’s only mistake was that she was flying on such a low quality airline like Southwest.

    Instead of appealing the verdict, this airline should be focusing on the improving its customer service and training flight attendants how to handle such situations.

  • April 13, 2006 at 1:55 am
    A realist says:
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    good to see Nevilles spawn decided to cross the pond and bless us with his wisdom.

    I beleive that our buddy Mohammed Atta who was the mastermind behind 9/11 was a engineer by training.

    Labeling people who wish to end the world for all of us as \”professnials\” is nonsensical.

    It\’s highly likely that any passengers who stepped up were threatened with litigation against them. Since most of us don\’t have the financial resources or time to fight ambulance chasers we avoid them or any chance of litigation.

    I also find that most people that play \”devils advocate\” did not lose anyone in these attacks and that most traditionally liberal New Yorkers are not real liberal when it comes to these fanatics.

    For some reason Neville Chamberlin\’ famous statement \” we now have peace on our time\” in 1939 seems to stick and some people seem to have slept through their world history classes.

  • April 13, 2006 at 1:56 am
    sar says:
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    Ray, There is no First Class on SW Airlines it is all open seating, You say no passenger would substantiate flight attendents? maybe the pasengers did not want to get involved-like so many U S Citizens…\”don\’t get involved\” yet we now see by not getting involved we are giving up all our rights including our country….The Non US illegal has more rights than we do just ask our leaders…So as I see it the Texas Jury is just giving her a start at making it big in good old USA….How sad for us all…

  • April 13, 2006 at 2:04 am
    Lucky ******* says:
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    LOL!

  • April 13, 2006 at 2:06 am
    Ernie says:
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    Regardless of fault on the airline\’s part, awarding $27.5 million when there were no injuries to the person who most likely started and escalated the whole situation should qualify this jury for Idiot(s) of the Year.

  • April 13, 2006 at 2:07 am
    Jose says:
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    Apparently you do not live in the real world of flying Southwest Airlines. There is no first class on any Southwest planes. I fly their routes 4-5 times a month and while I do not like the \”cattle car\” type of seating arrangement (no pre-assigned seats) it is one of the few airlines that has friendly attendants and upbeat and humorous announcements. It is also one of the few airlines that makes money which I guess makes it a target for the greedy lawyers.

  • April 13, 2006 at 2:11 am
    Bob says:
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    I\’m sure $27.5 mil reward will be reduced at the appeal, but that\’s why it\’s called punitive damages to prevent a wrongdoer to do illegal stuff again.

  • April 13, 2006 at 2:16 am
    CLR says:
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    I find it hard to believe this – it was definitely not on Texas Justice! Had it been, the only award this woman would have received is the refund of her fare for the remaining part of her flight & possibly the for the costs she incurred. If this woman is associated with a Terrorist group then she definitely will have the funding for the next strike wherever it may be. Maybe the Texas Jury knew this & decided if they gave her the big bucks then she would make sure Texas got no Whammy\’s!
    I think the Jury should have to pay half of it for their own stupidity!

  • April 13, 2006 at 2:20 am
    Southern Agent says:
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    This economic terrorist will probably give some of this money to suicide bombers. America better wake up.

  • April 13, 2006 at 2:28 am
    scared says:
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    Let\’s just hope this person\’s mistreatment does not lead to more riots whereever there is a collection of peaceful muslins.

    We certainly don\’t want to offend such an elightened group of individuals.

  • April 13, 2006 at 2:35 am
    KW says:
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    Any one out there know if this was actually \”punitive damages\” or did they claim under the PIAI coverage for false arrest, etc? Would be interesting to see the transcripts of the case –

    ps. Just another example of jury awards that are so completely absurd they make you sick
    I\’ll take SWA over any other airline – As stated in other posts, they are there to protect me and everyone else on that plane – I would rather have them be safe than sorry
    What would the outcome have been if it were a real threat and god forbid 100-150 people lost their lives… Who would be suing then?
    Oh yeah, I\’m not supposed to say \”god\”) sorry

  • April 13, 2006 at 2:46 am
    Bob says:
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    If you read the article carefully, she was suing the SW Airlines for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. As the article says, she was taken off the plane for only appearing to be a terrorist and not based on any actual threats.

  • April 13, 2006 at 2:47 am
    Brevard says:
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    I wonder how Enrique the attorney would feel if he and his family were obliterated
    in a fireball after crashing into a buidling?

    He\’d be a martyr for attorneys everywhere!

  • April 13, 2006 at 2:52 am
    colorado court says:
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    Most prudent people do not grab flight attendent arms and demand to see the captain.

    In fact, after hundred of thousands of miles I\’ve never grabbed a flight attendant or demanded to see the captain.
    In fact, in some areas thats called assault and battery but common laws don\’t apply to muslims who only grab and verbally threaten employees.

    Shame on this jury for being such a wretched example of out legal system.

  • April 13, 2006 at 3:00 am
    voice of reason? says:
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    Well, well, well. What a mature and thoughtful group you are. And sensitive. It is good to see that profiling is not just limited to police and airlines. Contrary to popular opinion (at least on this site), not all terrorists are Middle Easterners. Anyone remember Omaha?

  • April 13, 2006 at 3:06 am
    Confused Reader says:
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    The article did state that this woman was a naturalized citizen. Did that part get skipped by the readers? It seems that most of the posts on this topic are malicious in nature. You weren\’t there on that airplane or in that court room. You can not take one small article and start condemning every woman of Middle Eastern descent as a terrorist. This is the United States the last time I checked and we are a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities. And have you forgotten what happened in Oklahoma? Timothy McVeigh was a white man, he was not Middle Eastern, and he was a terrorist. They come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. I think that most of the readers of this article took this way out of bounds. Yes the judgment is way overboard, but it was also one person\’s words against another\’s.

  • April 13, 2006 at 3:30 am
    Not confused says:
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    The issue I belive by those who posted comments are the jury awards and the lawyers. It is absolutley sickening to see such verdicts.

  • April 13, 2006 at 3:30 am
    Me says:
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    I think profiling is the greatest thing since common sense was invented, I don\’t see any reason to be scared of an 80 year old italian grandmother, or a group of anglo teenagers on spring break, but I know that the 911 terrorists were not in these groups. I was on a plane Sept 11th, and I have no problem profiling passengers on a plane, I do it everytime I get on a plane now. I look for the person that I may have to take out before they take me and the rest of the plane out or 4000 people in a building on the ground. It must suck to be of mid east origin and know you are being watched like a hawk, but that is because of their religion and our desire to preserve life. This female was not harmed in ANY way, she suffered no injury no loss of money, no shame and even landed on time thanks to Southwests great on time record, any now she gets to help fund the next terrorist attack, and wouldn\’t it be a kick in the nuts if they use a Southwest plane to fly into the next building. Attorneys that even take on this kind of case should be shot in the town square. Society owes nothing to anyone, and some get their feelings hurt in life, live with it if you don\’t killed by a terrorist first. Face it folks they are not all our enemy, but they are not all our friends either and they want to kill the infidels that they think we are. I get my feeling hurt also, but I don\’t sue over it.

  • April 13, 2006 at 3:39 am
    searched says:
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    As far as racial profiling goes, I fly pretty often and I rarely see any persons who seem to be Arabic or Islamic searched or stopped by TSA in the airports. I on the other hand, a slim blonde middle aged woman, get searched (either my carry on baggage or my person) almost every time I fly. Some of my friends of similar appearance have told me the same thing happens to them.
    My theory is the TSA is afraid to search those who resemble the 9/11 terrorists because they might have to actually deal with someone dangerous OR they are afraid to be accused of racial profiling. Therefore, they are committing reverse racial profiling!

  • April 13, 2006 at 3:39 am
    Grant says:
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    The Isreali airline has never had a hi-jacking or passenger killed. They operate in the most dangerous region in the world.

    They profile and it works. I prefer to live. Just because you want to be nice and play well with others does not mean we all have death wishes.

    80 year olds and kids don\’t blow up planes. A threatening passenger is a threatening passenger. Don\’t grab flight attendants arms and make threats to see the captain.

    Life is really not as complicated as you seem to think it is. There are evil people out there that think and act totally different than you.

  • April 13, 2006 at 3:40 am
    ? says:
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    GOD, GOD, GOD, GOD, GOD, GOD, GOD, GOD, GOD, GOD, GOD, GOD, GOD ,GOD, GOD, GOD

    Does that offend muslims.
    We are free to observe whatever religion we wish, as long as it does not affects other in some way. Most terrorists are muslins and the religion is the basis for the terrorist acts, they say they are commanded by allah (not capitalized out of respect for my GOD) to kill anyone that does not believe the way they do, that affects me and everyone else. I would say they have profiled me, who do I sue???

  • April 13, 2006 at 3:54 am
    CLR says:
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    Me Too! I LOVE GOD & JESUS CHRIST TOO so who do I get to sue?

  • April 13, 2006 at 4:26 am
    Di says:
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    If the circumstances are supported by eye witnesses in the aircraft testimonies suggest that
    Attorney Moreno\’s Punitive Damage Award be reduced to one dollar by the court
    Moreno be censured for abusing our courts
    Texas look into the presiding judge\’s qualifications to remain on the bench

  • April 13, 2006 at 4:26 am
    Di says:
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    If the circumstances are supported by eye witnesses in the aircraft testimonies suggest that
    Attorney Moreno\’s Punitive Damage Award be reduced to one dollar by the court
    Moreno be censured for abusing our courts
    Texas look into the presiding judge\’s qualifications to remain on the bench

  • April 14, 2006 at 7:19 am
    ubelievable racism says:
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    There is one thing that is more disguisting than the injustifiabe award that was given to this woman: the racism and ignorance that is exibited by the majority of visitors commenting this article.

    Let\’s look at the facts of the case:

    A U.S. citizen whose religious affiliation is unknown (she may as well be Christian or Jewish – there are Iranians who are Christian or Jewish for those of you who are too ignorant to know that) was falsely imprisoned and handed over to the feds as a terrorist suspect because the three flight attendants thought that she \”looked like a terrorist\”. Their claims that she grabbed them or was combative on the plane are obviously false as they could not be corraborated by any other passengers present there.

    The comments people have left are far from the facts of the case and are more fitting to a KKK meeting than a professional discussion. I am ashamed to be working in the industry populated by people as ignorant as people who have commented here.

    \”Next time she gets combative set up a video shoot, chop her head off and throw it out the emergency door.

    Maybe she\’ll get lucky and kill some Amercian Infidel by landing on them from
    20,000 feet.

    Throw her out at 20k ft and give her a chance to take out more than one infidel.

    Labeling people who wish to end the world for all of us as \”professnials\” is nonsensical.

    she definitely will have the funding for the next strike wherever it may be

    I wonder how Enrique the attorney would feel if he and his family were obliterated in a fireball after crashing into a buidling?

    common laws don\’t apply to muslims who only grab and verbally threaten employees.

    now she gets to help fund the next terrorist attack, and wouldn\’t it be a kick in the nuts if they use a Southwest plane to fly into the next building

    the religion is the basis for the terrorist acts, they say they are commanded by allah (not capitalized out of respect for my GOD) to kill anyone that does not believe the way they do, that affects me and everyone else.

    If this was a white or black american it would be given a second thought. This woman, who has no rights in her own country, is looking to make a fast buck in ours by abusing the liberties that Americans have shed countless blood defending. She should be prosecuted for wasting court\’s time. People like that have no business being inour country. She should go home where she will be treated like she should be.

    the religion wants to kill non believers, I say they should die before they kill, that is simple human nature to preserve life against that which is dangerous.

    People will die if this attitude continues.\”

  • April 14, 2006 at 9:36 am
    Dirk P. says:
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    This is absurd. If this was a white or black american it would be given a second thought. This woman, who has no rights in her own country, is looking to make a fast buck in ours by abusing the liberties that Americans have shed countless blood defending. She should be prosecuted for wasting court\’s time. People like that have no business being inour country. She should go home where she will be treated like she should be.

  • April 14, 2006 at 10:11 am
    Disgusted and fed up says:
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    Neville (alias Voice or reason),

    first off it was not Sweden that was given to the Nazi\’s as an appeasment. It was the Sudentland region of Europe.

    Secondly it was not Omaha that was attacked by terrorists it was Oklahoma City. I realize that to you liberal east coasters Omaha and Oklahoma city are the same but there is actually a difference.

    You did a fine job as a juror on this trial. You\’ve made a lot of Amercians proud of our legal system as well as the education system with you brilliant and precise analysis of terrorism. Never let it be said that there is no difference between the Islam Faith and Christianity. We often see the Pope and High clerics advocating killing and repression.

    In fact just last week I saw the Pope on TV defending killing and advocating the destruction of Isreal so that Jesus would come back. He advised that all non catholics needed to be purged from the planet. Jesus demands this.

  • April 14, 2006 at 12:26 pm
    JR says:
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    What next, a national day of protests for them to have citizenship and amneisty without doing anything to become a citiznes, lets just appoint a few to senate and congress so we don\’t have to defend the court cases that the ballots were altered or not counted, or better yet that the ballot were not printed in arabic so they did not know who they were really voting for, Oh yeah they need voting rights. Folks our country was based on freedom and equality, this means you get treated like anyone else that grabs a flight attendants arm and makes demands, in my book that treatment involves getting pounced on by the passengers, subdued, strapped to a seat with a dirty sock in your mouth and then shoved in a jail cell until trial about 10 years later. If you are not a terrorist don;t act like one and don\’t do stupid things that look like you are getting ready to light your shoe bomb if the captain does not respond to your pathetic whining. And they wonder why the smart Americans want nothing to do with their religion or beliefs, the religion wants to kill non believers, I say they should die before they kill, that is simple human nature to preserve life against that which is dangerous. Exactly what harm did this female suffer? in her country she would be put to death for such actions. Timothy Mcveigh while a truly sad event, did not have the same doctrine that this entire portion of the world has toward the rest of mankind, Mcveigh was also pissed at the government, he also was convicted for what he did. I say we should treat radical muslims in no different fashion if they show agression toward ANY American. No one has freedom to affect harm to others for any reason. People will die if this attitude continues.

  • April 14, 2006 at 3:04 am
    David E. says:
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    Where do they find jurors with such short memories? Shortly after 911 they passed a law restricting people from gathering near the cockpit door or the forward bathroom. Of course the flight attendents were not going to let her see the captain no matter what she looked like. The fact that she fit the profile of the 19 others reinforced their decision. I applaud Southwest for doing the right thing and for not hiding behind the easy way out. I can\’t see that they did anything wrong, especially when you remember the state of the country that close to 911.After all,they actually did land in El Paso before they put her out of the plane. Where they came up with these 12 jurors is a mystery,but isn\’t American Airlines based in Dallas? Surely this will be reduced to a bag of peanuts, which is still too much!

  • April 14, 2006 at 6:03 am
    scared says:
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    Oh please don\’t say that. We might offend our muslim buddies. They would be forced to kill thousands of more infidels in order to get their 78 vestial virgins.

    We need to just pretend that there is no pattern to terrorism and Islam. We need to continue to look for terrorism in Midwestern Methodist churches and AARP meetings.

    Attorneys and contemptable jurors will bring the downfall of our country much quicker than even the USSR could have in its prime. We will have adbicated without even trying.

  • April 15, 2006 at 1:04 am
    not as dumb says:
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    Well now, WHO is ignorant?
    It is a shame that people have to feel they way they do against radical extremist muslims, but I don\’t see any alternative, they are responsible for numerous attacks against our country and our military and have killed thousands right here on our soverign soil. If you are ignorant to their religion you may not be aware that they think you should die because you do not believe the way they do. I liked Southwest the first time I flew them, a little crouded but affordable, ON TIME, clean, polite staff and apparently they have staff that looks out for the safety and well being of its passengers. I applaud this crew for not backing down, not jeopardizing the lives of others to appease this wacked out nut job that apparently did this whole stunt on purpose. If she did grab the arm of anyone, I would love to see the civil trial on that. Our judicial system is corrupt. I can only hope that the punitive award is reduced to, oh say the cost of her ticket, followed by a court order that she is never allowed on a US based airline ever again. That would be for her own safety as she is likely to be attacked if she did that stunt in front of most regular flyers. I value my life more than her rights. And yes people will die if attitudes don\’t change. Profiling is not wrong, terrorists do it all the time.

  • April 15, 2006 at 4:37 am
    ubelievable racism says:
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    nobody is disputing the need to profile, nobody is disputing the existence of sick idelogy propagated by radical muslims, which is by the way very different than the belieft of the majority of 10 million law-abiding American muslims who might love this country as much and possibly even more than each one of us.

    we are talking about a US citizens whose religious creeed is uknown and whose only fault was that \”she looked like a terrorist\” because she descends from Iran.

    yes, the airlines and airport security have the responsibility to use every possible mean to care for the safety of the passengers, including profiling, but they don\’t have the right to abuse people, to detain them, or accusse them of terrorism just because they look certain way. It appears that is exactly what happened here. Given the centents of the article, there are no indications whatsoever that this woman had jeopardized the safety of anybody on that plane.

    Somebody who wants to \”chop a person\’s head off and throw it out the emergency door or throw a person out at 20k ft\” just because that person might look a certain way is as sick as the radicals who want to kill infidels.

  • April 15, 2006 at 4:50 am
    Sad says:
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    It is disturbing that you have forgotten the images (whether you saw them or not you know they happened) of the muslims that did chop of the heads of Americans that were held hostage while trying to help their own people, I really don\’t think the post was serious about chopping her head off, but it sure gets the point across that we are not serious about security in this country if you think you can\’t detain a person because they do look like a terrorist and because they are acting in a weird way and making demands on an aircraft. I say strap the person to the seat and hold a box cutter to their throat until the plane lands, then slam her in a jail cell and prosecute.
    We have no problem doing it for people that cause disturbances on planes if they are not muslim, Discrimination may keep you alive. Guilt by association. Don\’t do stupid things and you won\’t have a problem, grab a flight attendant and rot in jail. I don\’t care what her religious belief is, I don\’t care if she is a professional, I don\’t care if she is a US citizen, it was reported that she did things that she should have been restrained for. Way to go Southwest. No good can come out of this case, because it will only weaken any security because the TSA doesn\’t want to offend anyone. You have NO rights on aircraft, live with it or die because of it.

  • April 15, 2006 at 6:28 am
    unbelievable racism says:
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    First of all, I have not forgoten anything. You are the one who may have forgoten the sacrifices generations of Americans made to make this country the best in the world, to make it a place where people have the right to live in liberty and be free from harrassment, intimidation, and stereotyping regardless of how they look or where they may descend from.

    The fact that some demented idiots in Iraq or Afganistan or on 9/11 have committed heniuos crimes against Americans (muslim radicals commit crimes against Iraqis, Afghanis, or other muslims as well) should not change that, and has nothing to do with this woman\’s right to be treated fairly even on an airplane.

    The main problem with you position is that you are assuming things that are not fact: the claim that this woman was grabbing them and acting weird was made by the flight attendants who obviously screwed up. That is not a fact.

    The fact is that this woman\’s behavior did not threaten the safety of any passengers on that plane, because if it did, she would be in jail right now. She probably went throught a series of security checks before she got on the plane, said the flight attendands mishandled her, and given the decions of the jury, her claim must have been corraborated by the people on that plane.

    Our country has seen a big share of terrorist acts from white, middle aged, christians as well: remember Timothy McVey, Eric Rudolph, christian fundamentalists, KKK and many others who have committed terrorist crimes against civilians, abortion clinics, blacks, minorities, and gays. I don\’t think we have arrested or mishandled every white, middle aged dude every time somebody alleged he was acting \”weird\” in front of a government building, black church, abortion clinic, or gay bar. It is for a good reason, the same reason that SWA is having to pay now.

    I do agree with everybody that the size of the jury\’s award is injustifiably unreasonable.

  • April 17, 2006 at 7:04 am
    Not a ninny says:
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    I will speak for a lot of the less politically correct Anmercians.

    There is not other faith in the world that advocates killing and terrorism from the top cleric positions. I also know of no other faith that gives heavenly rewards for killing infidels. In fact, in many religions, the concept of ending life is reserved only for God to employ. Drafting young people and corrupting them to do evil deeds is truly the work of the devil and has no kinship with spirituality regardless of what faith you observe.

    There is no greater evil in the world than corruption young people for your own selfish needs.

    Almost all religiions also recognize the concept of good and evil. Everyone with a sound spiritual basis realizes that the entire Islam faith has been permeated with extremely evil sects that want to hasten the end of the world as we know it. The islamic faith is the single most evil and threatening factor that anyone that resides on this planet faces. Almost any cataclymic world event scenario started by man will directly involved Islam.

    For you to portray this woman\’s request as normal or reasonable shows a total lack of understanding of how rational people think and act. There would be no circumstance where any passenger should get irate and request to see the captain in mid flight.
    This has nothing to do with her ethnic heritage however I would be a lot more concerned if this clown was acting up than if it was an 80 year old grandpa or 8 year old child.

    You are an embarrassment to the insurance industry and most likely a lawyer or some HR hack.

  • April 17, 2006 at 7:12 am
    not racist says:
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    Carrington, who teaches economics at California State University, Los Angeles, said since her arrest she has been the subject of increased scrutiny and security checks when she travels internationally. (AP)

    Text of a Letter to the President from 2003

    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,

    (Many other signatures, including:)
    Samantha Carrington, California State University at Los Angeles

  • April 17, 2006 at 9:40 am
    Realist says:
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    Her lawyer, Erique Moreno, defended Michael Jackson\’s molestation charges and recently sucessfully defended a gang member nick named \”Lil\’ Hit Man\” who gunned a man down in cold blood with three witnesses watching, other shady characters that play the system are his other clients. He\’s a crafty counselor, on the level with the late Johnny Cochran. He has a eye for the big bucks.
    Yeah, don\’t be a racist you fools say. Who do you think is going to pay her? We all are.
    I KNOW that SWA is one of the best airlines out there. Do you fools think the stewardess woke up that morning planning to harass an Iranian??? The Iranian STARTED the whole deal after all, with her insolent demands, baiting the stewardesses , all three of them.
    Give me a break, there\’s more stupid people out there than I thought. The further milking of the dumb Americans and using our trusting system against us.
    And that \”letter\” from SWA is a fake, as the signee, the CFO of SWA, denied under oath writing it, mailing it or seeing it.

  • April 17, 2006 at 3:16 am
    Southern Agent says:
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    Call me a racist, I LEARNED to be one.

  • April 17, 2006 at 3:55 am
    Catholic and Proud of it says:
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    Sorry Disgusted and Fed up, I am disgusted and fed up with Morons like you that pretend they know something about the Catholic Church or Christianity for that matter. The Catholic Church does NOT advocate killing of any kind except in self defense. Get your facts right. Try picking up a Catholic Bible and the Catholic Apologetics.

  • April 17, 2006 at 3:55 am
    Ashamed says:
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    Did any of you reactionaries bother to google this case? Here is an excerpt I found after 30 seconds of searching:

    FBI Special Agent John Shipley testified that he did not believe the flight attendants\’ accounts. Jurors also saw a letter written to Carrington from Southwest President Colleen Barrett calling the incident \”heinous\” and offering to donate $8,000 in airline tickets to the hospital where her mother had been treated.

  • April 17, 2006 at 4:28 am
    linguist says:
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    Allah is the Arabic word for the monotheist God of Arabic speaking Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Christians in the Middle East pray to Allah when they pray in Arabic the same way Spanish speaking peoples say Dios. So your lack of capitalization (if God pays attention to such things) isn\’t a slight againt any separate Arab God.

    For the record, I agree that the settlement was absurd and I believe that profiling is a valid tool. But I also believe that arguments based on ignorant rhetoric don\’t contribute anything to the strength of either side.

    God is not yours, you are his.

  • April 17, 2006 at 5:07 am
    anti-racist says:
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    You\’re a major *******. But again, that is probably nothing new to you or people around you.

  • April 17, 2006 at 6:18 am
    At a Glance says:
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    Osama,

    quit posting on this site and get back to work. I understand there is a town somewhere in America the needs to be blown up so you can get your vestial virgins.

    In hundreds of thousands of miles of airline travel I\’ve never once asked to see the captain. No reason to. I see little reason to have this idiot passenger see the captain in mid flight.

    In fact, If she were threatening the crew and demanding to see the captain and happened to be sitting next to me I think I\’d be more than happy to handle the situation. I would not have been bullied by the ambulance chaser that\’s representing this clown.

  • April 17, 2006 at 6:53 am
    Uh Oh! says:
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    Terrorists Recruiting \’White Muslims\’
    By WILLIAM J. KOLE, Associated Press Writer
    5 hours ago 4/17/06

    SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina – His code name was Maximus, and he held secret meetings in a shabby room at the Banana City Hotel on the outskirts of Sarajevo.

    Bosnian police put him under surveillance, and in a raid last fall on his apartment on Poligonska Street, authorities seized explosives, a suicide bomber belt and a videotape of masked men begging Allah\’s forgiveness for what they were about to do.

    What they planned, investigators believe, was to blow up a European embassy. But compounding their concern, they say, was the ringleader\’s background: Maximus turned out to be Mirsad Bektasevic, a 19-year-old Swedish citizen of Serbian origin with ties to a senior al-Qaida operative.

    Terrorists have been working to recruit non-Arab sympathizers _ so-called \”white Muslims\” with Western features who theoretically could more easily blend into European cities and execute attacks _ according to classified intelligence documents obtained by The Associated Press.

    A 252-page confidential report jointly compiled by Croatian and U.S. intelligence on potentially dangerous Islamic groups in Bosnia suggests the recruitment drive may have begun as long as four years ago, when Arab militants ran up against tough post-9/11 security obstacles

  • April 18, 2006 at 8:24 am
    JR says:
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    She was charged with a crime, she was restrained and taken into custody. The flight attendants may have been drunk or high on drugs also, this woman did not LOOK like she was from the Middle east, she WAS from the middle east, the hot bed of terrorists. Is she a terrorist, we don\’t know yet. Did she do some incredibly stupid, illegal, terrorist like things? OH YEAH. She made a scene on an aircraft, I must question her intelligence, but then I must question that of the jury, the judge, the people that defend her actions. I do not question the education of her attorney, I don\’t even question his motives, they are clear that he is out for a big buck and to destroy our legal system, Now who thinks Michael Jackson was really innocent????

  • April 18, 2006 at 8:52 am
    Steve R says:
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    Even if she was rudely treated, with no physical injury, where are the damages? It is hard to see $2750 much less $27.5 mil.Did someone corrupt the jury as so often happens in South Texas. A friends daughter was on a product liability jury here in S Texas and was contacted at home by friends of the plaintiff duing the trial.

  • April 18, 2006 at 9:38 am
    JC says:
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    I must say, it was tough reading through all these responses to this article, but, with a few exceptions, all of you have made me smile after a blessed Easter week end. I\’m proud to be an American, as the saying goes. When the losers get you down, with their brethren in the media constantly criticizing our values, it\’s great to read that 90% of us are normal, but often silent. Thanks, and I like some of the idea\’s for Southwest to adopt for future losers.

  • April 18, 2006 at 1:41 am
    KK says:
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    I think that disgusted was being sarcastic on his comments on the pope. No pope in recent memory would ever advocated violence.

    The same can not be said for High Clerics in the muslim faith.

    In fact, most actively support the conversion or cleansing of infidels.

    The are evil incarnate and will have to be destroyed. Truly evil people can never be reasoned with only understand force. People such as Hitler, Saddam, Idi Amin and Gengis Khan are never reasoned with…only defeated.

    It is truly shameful that this person even got a day in court. Any US citizen harassing flight crews and demanding to see the captain should be arrested. To even reward her with a day in court is a disgrace to every American that died on 9/11 or in the resulting military action defending us against these \”religious\” zealots. These muslims won\’t be getting their virgins they will be rotting in h*&$ which is where they all belong.

  • April 18, 2006 at 2:17 am
    Freq Fly says:
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    What – it didn\’t make their A&E TV show. As a business person that puts on 40,000 miles a year, I would never fly this airline.

  • April 18, 2006 at 6:45 am
    cannot believe these reactions says:
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    The flight attendents over-reacted. This is a 54 year old economics professor that appeared to be of Middle Eastern ancestry.
    The flight crew may have been over worked, exhausted, jittery and they just melted down. Everybody loses in this situation. Very unfortunate for all involved.

  • August 26, 2008 at 12:28 pm
    killerofevildooers says:
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    The evil flight attendants have gotten way out of hand these days and since the FBI has their ear they will make up anything about anyone to get back at them for complain about bad service.

    If you folks with reading problems have someone read the story for you, you will learn that the FBI investigated this incident and determined the the attendants made up the crap about this lady to not have to deal with her complaints rather than a concern over public safety. The flight attendants should be prosecuted for filing a bogus complaint.

  • July 12, 2010 at 4:45 am
    jim says:
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    the local police have been doing this for years, you walk on the sidewalk in the city & the police start asking you questions pertaing to, going?, been?, got drugs?,drinking? clearly 4th. amendt. violation! most people dont known this & get in trouble by talking to much.

  • August 22, 2010 at 5:17 am
    Meschelle says:
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    With great sadness I must post racism is alive in the corporate world. I was travelling back from the east coast into SFO and the buzz was about a black female southwest employee being called a “black bi*ch” by a white passenger and that passenger being able to take a later flight. This passenger was being assisted by asian and white employees who obviously did not care about the effects their actions would have on their co worker. This is just sad. I am sure Southwest will cover this up



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