Woman files lawsuit against AMR because passenger next to her masturbated while she slept

A 21-year-old Harris County woman filed a $200,000 lawsuit against American Airlines alleging employees on a flight to Los Angeles from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport failed to protect her while she slept from another passenger who masturbated to her and ejaculated in her hair, according to a lawsuit she filed last week in Tarrant County.

The Harris County woman alleges employees knew of the risks associated with failing to “police the passengers to ensure that passengers do not hurt one another,” the suit states.
Airline officials did not return calls seeking comment. In a statement to a Houston television station last year, a spokesman said the company regretted the incident, but the flight crew took appropriate action.

The woman and her lawyer could not be reached for comment. The Star-Telegram does not identify victims of sexual crimes.

Destined for a Spring Break visit with family and friends March 19, the woman flew from Houston to DFW Airport and had settled into her seat for the last leg of flight 2074 to Los Angeles about 11 p.m., the suit states. The woman slept most of the flight, but awoke about 20 minutes before landing when the pilot announced the plane was on descent into Los Angeles. When the woman opened her eyes, she saw that an unknown man had moved into the seat next to her and was staring at her as he masturbated, the suit states.

The woman turned toward the window in embarrassment and in an act of nervousness began to run her fingers through her hair where she noticed “a substantial amount of an extremely sticky substance in her hair,” the suit states.

The woman began to cry and tried to get the attention of a flight attendant, but was unsuccessful, the suit states. Finally a passenger in the row in front of the woman comforted her and verified the semen in her hair, the suit states.

When the plane landed, employee called airport police and the man was arrested.
The suit alleges that the during the investigation, American Airlines employees told police they witnessed the man move from his assigned seat into the row where the woman was sleeping.
The woman is seeking punitive damages and a jury trial.

-- Melissa Vargas

Comments

[Dragonia]

OMG!!! That is just horrible. If safety is a number one priority on flights, when they noticed he had changed seats, they should have confronted him. I hope she gets the damages she is asking for.

[pthirteen]

Like Dragonia says +++ she should get millions !!!. Any time a passemger gets out of their seat they should be tossed off the plane! The F/A should have know which passengers will do this just by looking at them! AA needs to train them better!

[Brad]

Sue the airlines? Ridiculous. People change seats on flights all the time when there are empty seats and they want more room. She should sue the perpetrator, certainly, for his disgusting perverse crime, but sue the airlines because someone moved seats. Great, next thing you'll know we won't be able to move out of that cramped center seat when there are whole rows empty in the back for fear that we all might masturbate on some sleeping person back there. Absurd.

[Nate]

$200K? (though I am actually shocked she didn't sue for more) But really - is it the airline's fault? I had a guy farting up a storm in the seat next to me on my last trip, should I sue the airline for failing to preserve air quality in the cabin?

The guy is clearly deranged and I hope he gets punished severely for doing this to her.

[The User]

How does the airline know who knows who on an airplane? People switch seats all the time on flights.

[stoicOne]

The airlines is not responsible for this. It is another frivolous lawsuit, inflammatory in nature, intended to give someone a free ride. She should sue the individual for damages, if she feels wronged. There should have been criminal charges as well.

[Vaag]

I'm surprised it wasn't on NWA.

[Vaag]

I'm surprised it wasn't on NWA.

[Pat]

I've heard of flying the friendly skies, but this is ridiculous. That guy is a pervert only a mother (maybe) could love.

[Zak]

Yeah, every time a passenger moves seats it's because they want to masturbate on someone. Please. The incident is awful, but how are the 2 flight attendants for the coach cabin supposed to 'police' every passenger at all times?

[Big John]

Her lawyer is hardly shooting for the stars here. I would say about 10 times that amount and take it from there. These flight attendants are oh-so vigilant if someone flips their magazine pages too loudly -- but when some pig masturbates all over a fellow passenger, not so much.

[Eric]

What a creep.

[American Airlines]

Something Special In The Air!

[Dan]

Another over-reaching lawsuit from a money-hungry citizen! Her suit should be against the masturbator, not the airline. It's not a crime to switch seats, many people do it for various reasons. However, if the guy was acting suspicious beforehand, the airline would share liability since it would be reasonable to assume the airline knew of a "potential" risk. Otherwise, sorry sister, go wash your hair and get on with life....and sue the scumbag.

[billy buoy]

200k thats all? She should be going for millions---those lazy, non chalant, rude, pushy Flight Attendants who claim our Safety is their Top Priority should have the whole Group or their Union made to pay the damages that will be rewarded from this lewd act.

Dont buy that "Safety" priority from them any longer...its an excuse to be rude and provide shoddy treatment to paying customers--period.

The U.S. based attendants are the worst, laziest, rudest, loudest bunch in the world. Their unions are among the worst in the World as well---and the joke of the matter is their Unions rarely if ever save their jobs when the crunches come, so why they remain so loyal is beyond me..probably because it protects them to continue with their laziness.

Havent we seen enough lately of this bunch? Like the recent AMR incident of a woman dying of a heart attack on board because their onboard medical equipment including oxygen was depleted. Watching out for whose Safety?..PUhleeze...we've been scammed by this bunch since 9-11. I say no more, they've been found out...

Cant wait for their replies where they threaten me, and continue to make claims of how whiney we all are and they cant help out because they're concerened about Safety. They're concerned about getting to that last row of seats and doing their personal bill paying, reading, homework, union and personal gossip and making under the breath comments about targeted passengers.

Shame on the Whole Lot of Them all

[opa-opa]

I guess that's one way to pass the time on a boring flight...

[redleg]

The airline is blamed but the pervert isn't even mentioned? I guess he didn't have money.

[billy buoy]

200k thats all? She should be going for millions---those lazy, non chalant, rude, pushy Flight Attendants who claim our Safety is their Top Priority should have the whole Group or their Union made to pay the damages that will be rewarded from this lewd act.

Dont buy that "Safety" priority from them any longer...its an excuse to be rude and provide shoddy treatment to paying customers--period.

The U.S. based attendants are the worst, laziest, rudest, loudest bunch in the world. Their unions are among the worst in the World as well---and the joke of the matter is their Unions rarely if ever save their jobs when the crunches come, so why they remain so loyal is beyond me..probably because it protects them to continue with their laziness.

Havent we seen enough lately of this bunch? Like the recent AMR incident of a woman dying of a heart attack on board because their onboard medical equipment including oxygen was depleted. Watching out for whose Safety?..PUhleeze...we've been scammed by this bunch since 9-11. I say no more, they've been found out...

Cant wait for their replies where they threaten me, and continue to make claims of how whiney we all are and they cant help out because they're concerened about Safety. They're concerned about getting to that last row of seats and doing their personal bill paying, reading, homework, union and personal gossip and making under the breath comments about targeted passengers.

Shame on the Whole Lot of Them all

[redleg]

The airline is blamed but the pervert isn't even mentioned? I guess he didn't have money.

[Ken Hansen]

What I don't get is why she holds the airline responsible - obviously this man was stealthy/quiet, as he didn't disturb any of the other passengers around her (like the nice woman in the row in front of her). If someone sitting 24" away couldn't hear/didn't notice anything going on, why is it reasonable to expect a member of the flight crew to discover the incident? The airline had no reason to go on "masturbation patrol" on the plane, as I have honestly never heard of this before (though Commedian David Cross does wonder (in one of his stand-up routines) "why they sell pornography in the airport? I've never seen anyone with porn on the planes I've been on"...

[Al M]

Gives the slogan "Cum fly with me" a completely new meaning.

[Alan Andrews]

"...a spokesman said the company regretted the incident, but the flight crew took appropriate action."

Outside of opening the door and throwing the scumbag out, what would that be, I wonder.

[Mark]

This is total BS, how could anyone not notice? Flight attendants didn't come when she was crying? she's trolling for some lawsuit money.

[Randy]

Typical, some sick sob does some disgusting and illegal thing. the victim, instead of suing the person who committed the crime, sues the place where it happened because the person who committed the crime is not worth millions. What happened to her is disgusting but its not the airlines fault it allows perverts to fly. Shes just out for the money, probably could care less about the guy, she has turned victim hood into greed. Anytime something bad happens to someone these days their first reaction is not punishing the perpetrator, but rather how they can get rich off it.

[Y]

No one else noticed this man masturbating into her hair???? almost unbelievable

[Rangie]

How were the flight attendants supposed to stop him? If your a 50something 120lb stewardess are you really going to confront a grown man who's crazy enough to be jerking off on strangers?

[Tim (Gilbert, AZ)]

Another frivolous lawsuit. If the man had masturbated in her hair while she dozed off on a park bench, what corporation would she have blamed ?

[Gross]

Yes, that's horrible, but it's not the airlines fault. They don't have resources to patrol every passenger on the flight, and I would hate if they did. Imagine being unable to move from your seat from the duration of a flight.
She should sue the pevert who did it, but I guess there's not as much money to be had from that.

[Dave Dufour]

Huh? This is what her lawyers are going for. The airline personnel perhaps should have noticed, but keeping in mind there are a lot of passengers on most flights, they can't keep track of absolutely everything. Who could have predicted a marauding masturbater?

In any case, the person at fault is the guy doing his business in the woman's hair. HE owes the woman big time. Lawyers always look for someone to blame, and it's usually the person with the deepest pockets, not necessarily the truly responsible party. Disgusting all the way around.

[Mimi]

What! I would have beaten him so badly we would both go to jail. I would have taken off my shoes and gone buckwild. Geez...

[serg]

Wow..that's so horrible yet so hilarious! If he was sitting next to me,(im a guy) there would have been a fight right then and there. I would risk being arrested. The cops would have understood why I beat his a$$.

[Anonymous]

And why not file suit against the creep who did this?? (Or does her attorney perceive AA has deeper pockets and will just quickly settle out of court anyway?) I think what happened to her is beyond DISGUSTING, but why not make the perpetrator responsible first & foremost. What a sicko this guy must be. He's lucky he wasn't next to me. Of course, I'm an old toot and he wouldn't have been interested in the first place. But if I'd awoken and found this creep doing this, I would have gouged him in his eyes immediately. That would have put a quick stop to his "activity".

[serg]

Wow..that's so horrible yet so hilarious! If he was sitting next to me,(im a guy) there would have been a fight right then and there. I would risk being arrested. The cops would have understood why I beat his a$$.

[Jeff]

This is beyond horrific - but, this is what transpires in a country that is mesmerized with the garbage that the left wing "money at all cost" Hollywood morons produce. Think: THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY !!!

[Appalled]

That's just SICK!! She should have pivoted around and just STOMPED into his nuckin' futs!

[Shocked!!]

shouldn't she be suing the dude that did this and not the airline? did she arrive safely and on time? hope the dude got arrested. if he did this in the waiting area would she still think the airline was responsible?

[tom]

Wow! I read another story awhile ago just like this! I dont think their is any way to stop something like this? It is sick, and unfortunately, it makes it tough for the airline since people move around in planes all the time. As for the Seaman, that is real sick! Wow, how can someone do that?

[Fred]

Give me a break. Talk about frivolous lawsuits.

While I fully understand the trauma the girl must have gone through, to ask $200k for semen in her hair is just ridiculous.

Because of this now all airlines will probably disallow passengers from changing seats during flights. That would be a shame. Sometimes on a crowded flight changing seats is the only way you can hope to get a decent seat where you aren't crammed between passengers far from the aisle.

Lawyers and people's greed... history will show that these were single-handedly most responsible for the decline and fall of the American empire.

[keats79]

OMG!!! That is horrible, I agree. People change seats all the time. Changing seats is not a safety issue. The cabin is dark for sleeping. Sue the creep, it is not the airline's fault.

[Average Joe]

Who is the jerk who did this? Why is he not named? Where's his photo? This clown should be shamed.

[Lame Cherry]

Why doesn't this woman sue the school system which has been since Bill & Hillary Clinton and Jocelyn Elders sexually indoctrinating 5 year olds on the above subject.
Normal people are being turned into perverts and then by online sites like Literotica which list garbage stories like this are being turned into sexophiles all with the help of Hugh Hefner and Hollywood.
I will bet her flight had sexual magazines by "mainstream" media and sexual movies from "mainstream" media.
This woman's lawyer needs to not stop at American Airlines, but needs a 200 million dollar lawsuit. Gov. Switzer of New York can be her star witness as sexophile maniac of the DNC.
Bring in Larry Craig, because if he was not set up he can claim the media and airlines steamed him up so he got into trouble in pervert Minneapolis.
Gee, another airport being a brothel for sex.
Sue lady sue and sue them all.

[Kenyon]

yes this horrible.

but the woman sueing the airline is like someone sueing the city they live in because they got mugged.

the man getting arrested, serving some time in lockup, getting fined, and being registered as a sexual offender is all that needs to be done.

in fact... sue the man that shot the wad.

[lonestarwolf]

I'm not surprised at all by this. Maybe if airlines would do something about the steep decline in attractiveness of their stewardesses over the years, then guys would stop feeling the need to do this to innocent fellow passengers.

[Hewolfv]

... Let me guess, Was the suspect's name Clinton?

[Kenyon]

yes this horrible.

but the woman sueing the airline is like someone sueing the city they live in because they got mugged.

the man getting arrested, serving some time in lockup, getting fined, and being registered as a sexual offender is all that needs to be done.

in fact... sue the man that shot the wad.

[Winterychain]

Terrible. Bring these people to justice.

[delacroix]

how is the flight attendent supposed to know that the man was not invited to sit with the lady. do we want to be accosted by a flight crew at every turn. the man should be castrated but the airline is not responsible.sue the man if you like but its the deep pockets she is after

[jumboloan]

I change seats all of the time on a plane. That is not suspicious behavior. It is ridiculous to blame AMR based on hindsight. The only one responsible is the man who did this.

[werker]

Sue the "Testoteroni" not the airline. It is not illegal or bad etiquette to change seats. Asking permission is appropriate. Can the young lady prove willful negligence on the part of the attendants? Did others know this was going on and not alert the attendants? If so sue them. I want attendants who first see to the safety of the passengers. If you sleep on the flight which I have done you give up some personal security issues. Some flights are like cattle cars and disgusting even without this creep next to you. Maybe we fly too much. Fly half as often and pay for two seats when you fly!

[Anon]

Was the guy arrested? If not, why not?

[number9]

dingbats & imbeciles rushing to the call of fascists for mindreading police-action on every movement a human might make - y'all deserve the march to a 1984 state of condition...

[CP]

200K not enough!
This is just creepy and really weird.

[steve]

This is an unfortunate incident, but the employees of the plane are not babysitters. People get up and move around on planes all the time and I have never ever seen the stewardess do anything about it.

The point is the man who did the crime is the one to blame and the one to receive punishment. She should be suing him but likely he has no money so she is suing who does have money.

Stop blaming other people for the actions of one person. I'm sure if the airline had no money and was going bankrupt she would sue the other passengers for not doing anything.

Steve.

[Keith]

I hope she gets everything she is asking and more!! What a pervert! We pay these excessive fees to fly because of "security" necessities, so says our illustrious government, yet a young woman cannot board a plane without getting, frankly, raped. Furthermore, it is disgraceful that the onboard flight attendants did nothing to the "rapist" when he moved from his designated seat. I was under the impression that this is a major violation of current procedures. Looks like the fees SHE paid for Homeland Security were just to feather another government agency's coffers under the guise of security!!

[BigShot]

Bull crap! The airlines should not be liable. The man doing it should be held liable. If the airlines saw his masturbating and did nothing about it thats one thing, but just for moving to another seat, not good enough. People move around on flights all the time, because of empty seats. These people are adults, let them go to court against themselves. The airlines did call police and had him arrested. Airlines cannot be liable for every thing that happens to you. She is mad, and rightly so, but dont go after the airlines just because they have money.

[James Boyd]

The airline should give the man a free ride, and halfway there throw him out. JWB

[Roger Meme]

I thought Bill Clinton only flew on private planes?

[NJ guy]

Gosh. Are any governors missing? :)

[Tom]

I would rather be a passneger on a hijacked plane than a passenger who wakes up to find some guy masturbating in my hair! The passengers on that plane should of at the very least beaten the crap out of the pervert before the police got their hands on him!

[Semaj]

Assuming she's telling the truth, that's gross. I hope they don't release or print either name until the court case is over. That's the only fair thing. I hate it when the withold the supposed rapee's name but plaster the person accused of it all over the front page.

[xiu]

It is a horrible unfortunate experience for the poor woman, but suing the airline? The airline did what they could by having him arrested once the plane landed since he incident happened 20 minutes before landing. There is no way for airline crew to know that he is one of many men on board who is at a certain time, at a certain seat is going to perform the outrageous act, or to know to confront or prevent him from doing it. As for changing seats, passengers do it all the time for any number of reasons from double empty seats to sleep, to read away from sleeping passengers next to their assigned seats, or to get away from annoying passengers or non-stop crying kids.

[Guy Thornton]

Normally I would say this is not the airlines fault but in recent years airlines have become so intrusive and since I must jump through so many hoops to get on their planes then what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander: they want total control over passengers then they've got it, together with attendant responsibility.

[Mom n Grandmom]

What a horrible experience. I am afraid I am from the "old school" and probably would have been arrested myself, for popping the guy in the snoot.

What a jackass. It's unfortunate that the airline employees could not get it together to help this passenger.

[Jack]

did it at least offer her a bag of peanuts?

[carrbow]

That was a criminal act,so how can she sue the airline? If you are flashed in the park do you sue the city?

[Ronaldus Magnus]

Bill Clinton?

[Ewwww]

Eeeeeeeeeewwwwww...

[Non-Moron]

How in the hell is this the airline's fault? People move around on flights quite a bit to talk to friends, family members, etc. I doubt you can sanely demonstrate that the airline was negligent because employees failed to foresee that his intention in changing seats was to glaze this young lady.

Also, note the relatively small amount of the suit - sounds like someone looking for a settlement without the pesky trouble of having to present a solid case in a court of law.

[AB]

$200,000?

[k]

horrible experience for the woman; but I am sick and tired of folks just going for the deep pockets and costing higher airfares or prices for other products as a result.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

Sue the sick puppy who sat next to her.

not to blame the victim but my first thought at the sentence where it said she couldn't get a steward's attention was - WHAT THE HECK IS THE CALL BUTTON FOR??

Second thought was: If it happened to me; I wouldn't slink back in my chair and cry - I WOULD YELL AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS - WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN WHACK OFF ON A PLANE!!!
Embarrass the hell out of the loser and make as big a scene as possible. Make him slink away; not yourself.

There may be more to the story than told here that would make the airline more responsible; but plenty of folks move around on planes and the stewards cant be everywhere.

[Obama Osama]

LMAO, She was owned...

[waterboy]

This does not surprise me. The last few times I have flown in the past 6 months, the American airline attendants have served us drinks and then gone to the back and read magazines. It surely isn't like is used to be. I was sitting by one of them not long ago and the buzzer was buzzing and she read on. Then another one came by and sat and they chatted about their lives. It seems as if they do not care about what is happening to the passengers one iota.

[Mike]

Dragonia,
You know who is going to pay for that lawsuit don't you? YOU and the rest of the people that fly planes, every lawsuit gets passed down to the consumer.

[xiu]

It is a horrible and unfortunate thing to have happened to the poor woman. But to sue the airline? The crew did the best they could by having him arrested once the plane landed since it happened 20 minutes before landing. There is no way for airline crew to know that out of the men on board, that a particular man, at a certain time, from a certain seating is going to do what he did, or anything for that matter. As for noticing him changing seat and not confronting him? Again, there is no way for airline crew to know he will be up to no good before the plane lands. People moving to other empty seats happen all the time and for many reasons. Reasons from getting away from annoying passengers next to their assigned seats, from non-stop fidgeting or whining crying kids, some sick coughing person, to finding some empty double seats to stretch out in, to sleep or to work on laptops. Why not sue him instead?

[Mike]

The airlines isn't responsible for his actions, she should have sat in the "No masturbation" section.

[Karen]

Don't stop at just the airline - go after the guy in a civil suit, as well.
She deserves a win - not sure how much... Sad part, is AA customers will pay the cost of the suit in higher ticket prices. Hope part of the guys sentence is that he can't fly for a few years.

[steve]

Blame it on Bush.

[Bama]

Feel for her, horrible experience...freaking lawyers digging for deeper pockets! The airline will settle and immediately pass on the expense to us, their passengers! Thanks trial lawyers! You contribute noting to society.

[Rob B]

I hope the judge throws this out. I don't know why this is AMR's fault. Furthermore, I can't imagine this woman waking up, seeing some guy masturbating, and simply turning to the window--it doesn't make sense. How many people were on the plane? I can't imagine some guy doing this and nobody stopping him. I also don't buy the "started to cry and couldn't get the attention of flight attendants" business. All she had to do was press the call button. My experience is that flight attendants respond very quickly to call buttons, even when they seem to be otherwise bitter and not service oriented. Alas, AMR will probably just pay her off to make the suit go away.

[tsswrap]

Horrible incident! But should she not be suing the man instead of the airline? Probably because the airline has more money.

[Blackbeard]

Gross! However, I don't see how it's the airline's fault. It's the perv's fault -- you're only suing the airline because they have money.

[Ian]

How come no one sits next to me like that when I fly!!!??? :((

[Bricknock]

I hope she gets 100 times the damages she is asking for, but with one of the worst legal systems in the world, who knows?

[digitalrich]

Let's not be too hasty in condemning the man. Perhaps he had a bad childhood, or suffered abuse as a child. In any case, if there is a problem here I'm sure it can be set at the feet of republicans and their evil leader George Bush.

[Kevin]

That's it? $200,000.00? American Airlines is lucky!! They should settle outside right now and count their lucky stars it wasn't $200,000,000!!!! And that crew should be fired, each and every one. The male passengers on that flight should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for sitting idle, without beating the ever living shit out of the sicko!!! What has this country come to? Evidently, there weren't any other men on the flight!! How could that go on without the sicko raising enough of a ruckus to get real mens' attention? Bastard's lucky I was not on the flight. I'll tell ya that!! I would've left him a bloody F&$*king mess by the time I was through with him!!! Guess that's one way for a terrorist to find out if there are any air-marshals on board, huh? Guess there wasn't one on that flight!!

[Kevin]

That's it? $200,000.00? American Airlines is lucky!! They should settle outside right now and count their lucky stars it wasn't $200,000,000!!!! And that crew should be fired, each and every one. The male passengers on that flight should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for sitting idle, without beating the ever living shit out of the sicko!!! What has this country come to? Evidently, there weren't any other men on the flight!! How could that go on without the sicko raising enough of a ruckus to get real mens' attention? Bastard's lucky I was not on the flight. I'll tell ya that!! I would've left him a bloody F&$*king mess by the time I was through with him!!! Guess that's one way for a terrorist to find out if there are any air-marshals on board, huh? Guess there wasn't one on that flight!!

[Mark Connaughton]

I wouldn't give her the $200K, but I would recommend "corrective surgery" for the guy.

[Brad]

Its ridiculous that she is trying to hold the airline financial responsible for what some sicko did to her. Anyone in their right mind knows that he is the one who performed that awful act and he alone should be held responsible for it, financially or otherwise. Our society is far too litigious and money hungry.

[Schopenhauer]

I'm going to say something that is not politically incorrect.

She is ONLY 21 years old. Yes, I know that 21 year-olds can drink, drive, carry a gun, graduate from college, and begin a family, HOWEVER, for some folks, life takes years of living before one is truly an "adult." Merely "feeling" grown up does not make one grown up.

I am much older; I would have clobbered the guy and yelled my head off.

It would not have occurred to me to "turn toward the window in embarrassment."

Yes, I know that it depends on the person and that other 21 year-olds may have handled the situation differently, and with more assertiveness.

I know that she was traveling as a fully emancipated adult; she didn't need a note pinned to her chest, she didn't need flight attendants to accompany off the plane, she didn't need a Happy Meal, she didn't need plastic pilots wings, or a coloring book. But, when I realize that the poor thing really didn't know what to do, I truly yearn to give her a hug and a coloring book, at least for a moment, before I sent her off to an assertiveness class. My point is that 21 is still very young.

I hope the judge throws the book at this sick-o pervert who looked at this very young woman as his own personal Playboy foldout to be used for uncontrolled gratification.

This woman (very recently a “girl”) is someone’s daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, aunt, cousin, loved one, classmate, colleague, employee, and friend. She deserved respect. However, while this vile pig refused to respect her, our Constitution demands that she reserve the right to be left alone. For that, she will have her day in court. But, we would all be better off if the incident hadn’t happened in the first place. I cannot begin to imagine how I would feel if she were my daughter.

Somehow, I doubt that this was his “first time” violating young women; perhaps the others were even more embarrassed than his latest victim. I usually fall asleep on any flight that takes longer than an hour; next time I think I'll look around a little more carefully. Sometimes, 21 year-olds can use a little bit of help along the way.

[Hexonexxon]

Where were the so-called "air marshalls" that are suppose to be on the plane protecting the people? Why didn't the flight attendants do anything to stop this vile thing of a man? I find it odd that no action was taken until AFTER the fact. Where the airlines afraid of being sued for violating his civil rights? Yet, her rights were clearly violated and I hope she wins! Shame on you American Airlines.

[momaduke]

DISGUSTING.... what a scary world this is becoming.. I think the weirdo should be sued as well. Did he just walk away from this with a slap on the wrist?

[D]

I think she should have contented herself with getting the man arrested. The flight crew should busy itself with making sure the passengers get through their trip safe and sound, and should be concerned with safety -- e.g., no plane crashes, etc. At least that should be first priority. Making sure passengers don't jerk off into each other's hair is also important, but there is a limit to how much the flight crew can police its passengers. What are they supposed to be doing? Walking through the aisles peering at passengers' crotches as they walk by? What if I have an itch? Also, what's done is done. She may never be able get the memory of that sticky substance out of her hair, but I'm sure it washed off very easily in the shower. I'm sure the man got his just desserts, but as for the airline, this is a frivolous lawsuit.

[Gerri Larsen]

Too bad the Airline didn't follow the path of its landing, as described in this article:

"...20 minutes before landing when the pilot announced the plane was on decent into Los Angeles."

Spelling should have been descent...

[sam morgan]

Jeez, put the perv in prison and get over it. Our litigation system is a mess. Next time some one passes gas in an airline, I can sue as airline failed to protect me from the noxius fumes? Time to put this litigation endemic to rest.

[Bob]

Just to clarify this man has a history of seizures and was on a new seizure medication. He has no memory of the events and witness say he was oddly unresponsive and did not respond to what the attendants were telling him.

Although this is a bit risque, people having mild seizures can do all sorts of wacky things. If they say the airlines is responsible is just going to make YOUR ability to move around the cabin during flight just that much more difficult in the future.

Someone with money really isn't to blame for every bad thing that happens in life

[John F]

I don't think she deserves damages, but I do think the sicko needs to do serious time in prizon for what he did.

[george washington]

I hope the airline prevails. They're
no more responsible for the man's
eccentricities than for the girl's.

Has nobody ever (deliberately) sneezed
on her ? Of course not. That never happens
in a typical american's tv-reality world.

[Bird]

That has to be one of the most disgusting and frighting experiences anybody could wake up to. I think he should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law!
Don't hold the airline responsible for the actions of a individual. They didn't do anything. They can't and shouldn't be held responsible for the movements of every passenger. Some people like to be able to move about. Take him to civil court and sue until your content.

[Gross]

That is absolutely disgusting! Nonetheless, people change seats all the time. Just because the airlines might have deep pockets, does not make them accountable. The woman should sue the man, if anyone. Unfortunately we live in a sue-happy society.

[John]

Now if he had brought a Nail clipper on board and was clipping his nails i bet he would have been stopped real fast.

[Pogue Mahone]

Since when did they let Pee Wee Herman on airplanes again?

[Carl]

What happened to individual responsibility? Or is it just that airlines have deep pockets? What about criminal prosecution of the perpetrator rather than the airline (which is also a victim)? Cut off his rudder-- and his wings and tail while at it-- then put him to work breaking rock in a prison quarry to pay for it. At least he'd never do it again. Or maybe we should just change the company name to "American Hairlines"....
Jingle: "Come Fly With Me." Maybe we should have individual ejection (or ejaculation?)seats for each passenger. That could take care of terrorists, drunks, perverts, and politicians all at once! If Bill Clinton started groping a lady passenger or Eliot Spitzer starting calling girls, they could just be ejected and there would be nothing the Semen Service could do to stop it. But then they'd need a separate one in the lavatory for Larry Craig. I'm starting to think our society is so corrupted because so many of our so-called leaders set a bad examples for the kiddies.

[Brother Russell]

Was there not a man on the plane who would have noticed what was happening and stopped it before it reached its uh climax?

[Ken]

If moving from one seat to another constituted a danger, the flights would never reach their destination. Sue the dude, not the flight attendants that are required to be in their seats for landing.

[B. Baldwin]

If the woman had been awake and summoned the crew when the act was going on would they have responded? It was her quite and fearful response and seeming inability to call out that contributed to the male passenger's ability to complete his lewd act. Is the airline responsible for the actions of all its passengers? Clearly not and since a cabin crew of 5 people simply cannot monitor the second by second behavior of two hundred passengers it is up to all passengers to raise the alarm. The male passenger is the only party that should be sued. Imagine for a minute that the male and female passenger actually knew each other. She plays her part he plays his he gets arrested and they plan to split a multi-million dollar settlement. American Airlines is not responsible for the woman's inability to cry out in distress, all she had to do was start screaming and she didn't.

[Kevin Harrison]

First of all, how can a guy masturbate into someone else's hair without SOMEONE noticing something?!? This wasn't an overnight flight where all of the lights were off. America Airlines should bear some responsibility because this lady had a reasonable expectation this type of violation wouldn't occur on ANY flight.

This creep should do some serious time and then let him try to do that in someone's hair on "the inside". Let me know how that works out for him!

[Eric]

I hope she wins the lawsuit. If the guy was assigned to sit beside her I could see the airlines not being responsible but they SAW HIM MOVE to her row while she was sleeping.

That should have been looked into.

I hope this guy paid for it while in jail with a little semen in his hair.

[dw]

What a horrible incident, but holding the airlines responsible?
On flights that are not completely filled, passengers change seats all of the time. On top of that, it is the middle of the night, most lighting has been turned off and stewards are not continuously walking up and down the aisles.
If the woman can prove that this pervert was observed then yes, she has a claim.
Otherwise, just another ambulance chasing lawyer and an individual trying to capitalize on a deep pockets law suit.

[what]

Did he get tested for deseases?

[El gato]

What a lame story! Even if it's true how can the airline be responsible? If Spitzer paid $1000 an hour to get both head and insertion, how can it be worth $200,000 if you have to do yourself while looking at the woman? Give us all a break and go away you sue crazy bimbo!

[GoBigRed]

Perhaps if the man masturbated with a pair of fingernail clippers in his pocket or maybe a picture or drawing of a knife, he would have attracted the airline's attention.

[MARY EDWARDS]

That was so totally disgusting..what is going wrong with our society?

[Zip]

She has a valid suit!!! As soon as the suspect was scene moving into an area he was not supposed to be in, within the plane, the flight crew should have immediately escorted him back to his seat. They observed him, but did nothing??? Failing to even question him...and why he had moved his seating...and next to a sleeping young woman who he clearly did not board the plane with???

This is just 7 years past 911. By now, one would think the crews of airlines would be smart enough to perceive danger when a passenger does something that is suspect...and move to stop it...or call for help!!!

This is a form of rape--and the crew of the plane, after observing suspicious activity by the assailent...immediately became responsible, at the point of making that observation, for protecting the passengers!!! They failed to do so--protecting passengers is one of the many mandates of their jobs, hence, the airline should pay damages to the victim, including punitive damages, and those employees who witnessed the suspect activity by the assailent, but did nothing to interdict him, or call for help, should be fired!!!

[RALPH]

ALL DEMLIBS MUST BE PLACED ON THE NO FLIGHT LIST!!!!

THEY REJECT FAMILY VALUES AND THEY HATE AMERICA!!!!!

LIBTARD PERVERT!!!!!

[Zip]

She has a valid suit!!! As soon as the suspect was scene moving into an area he was not supposed to be in, within the plane, the flight crew should have immediately escorted him back to his seat. They observed him, but did nothing??? Failing to even question him...and why he had moved his seating...and next to a sleeping young woman who he clearly did not board the plane with???

This is just 7 years past 911. By now, one would think the crews of airlines would be smart enough to perceive danger when a passenger does something that is suspect...and move to stop it...or call for help!!!

This is a form of rape--and the crew of the plane, after observing suspicious activity by the assailent...immediately became responsible, at the point of making that observation, for protecting the passengers!!! They failed to do so--protecting passengers is one of the many mandates of their jobs, hence, the airline should pay damages to the victim, including punitive damages, and those employees who witnessed the suspect activity by the assailent, but did nothing to interdict him, or call for help, should be fired!!!

[Mike]

I have done a lot of flying, and I dont understand how NO ONE saw this man exposing himself, and THEN masturbating into the ladies hair. Can understand how a flight attendant might not have seen if they were not close to the man, but other passengers not seeing????

[Jeff In Miami]

What is really sad the guy probably will get a good lawyer that will have some kind of mental disease that will get him off (sorry for the pun). AMR has the deep pockets so why not sue them. I am old and have been flying since the 60’s back then people dressed up for the flight now it seems less attractive than a bus ride.

[Chris]

Only an idiot would believe it is the airlines fault.. This guy needs the crap beat out of him, I volunteer. No way the airline is at fault, my god people, sue the bastard who did it.

[Mac-101]

Just what we need. Continue to sue the Airlines for everything and anything. I have had people on numerous flights ask me to change seats for one reason or another. With the price of fuel and lawsuits, only the rich will be able to afford to fly. As for the lady, I assume they got a DNA sample. That should be enough to lock that pervert up forever and throw away the key!

[chris]

Was her name Mary? Was There Something About Mary?

[ned]

right now when there is a better seat on a plane, passengers are allowed to change seats
this greedy woman and her shark, er i mean lawyer are gonna screw it up for everyone now,

I mean, she shoud sue the guy who did it, but its hardly the airlines fault,
what a whiny cry-baby, i mean if the going rate for getting semen in your hair is 200 grand, line the perverts up, they can come in my hair all they want (for 200 grand a pop that is)

[Mark]

Take that mental midget out and hank him from the old oak tree. How long does decent America have to stand the depredations of sick scum. Bet he was a democrat too.

[Indaga]

I travel a lot. One person changing seats is no big deal and is not likely to arouse the suspicions of the attendants. It is unrealistic for the passenger to expect that attendants will be everywhere at once. However, in the absence of the attendants, other passengers must have noticed something and did nothing. It's very difficult not to notice a guy jacking off, especially when sperm flies hair high. The other passengers are the ones who, in the face of the sexual abuse of a fellow passenger, likely opted to do nothing. Sad, but not the fault of the airlines.

[JohnDinFlorida]

Wow. How does one even comment on this? That woman is the ultimate victim in this situation, and yes, with all the onflight regulations and security how could the flight attendants NOT stop the man from changing seats, or at least bringing up the issue.
Is nowhere safe?
What a bizarre incident. My sympathies to the woman in the incident. And to the man,....no words can even convey what a fool you are.

[LA-Tex]

I sometimes fly from DFW from LAX on American, and I can tell you two things after reading this: (a) I'm going to start flying on Southwest into Love Field more often; and (b) Had I been on that flight, the police in Dallas would have had an aggravated assault to deal with as well, because I would have beat that man's a-- for doing that. Doesn't speak highly of American at all that that could happen on their flight. Where was the crew? I guess perverts fly on American.

[DavidA]

The guy should be put away, but why punish the airline for the act of a creep? Unless this woman can prove they were negligent, then she shouldn't get a dime from them. The flight was late at night, and I'm sure it was dark inside the cabin. I can easily see someone switching seats without the cabin attendents knowledge. She should sue the creep and leave the airline alone.

[David]

But Dr Ruth says what he did was perfectly natural.

[outabounds]

People change seats all the time. Don't try to turn flight attendants into cops or guardians. They can't keep an eye on everyone at every moment.

[Cully P]

Safety is definitely an issue on airlines, and while I won't mention any by name, there's one airline I am not flying on again. Back in August of last year I was flying with my fiancee to New York on X carrier, and at 4am an unruly passenger was trying to open the rear door of the plane. Not that he could have at that altitude, but he was trying. The flight attendant yelled for help, and NO ONE assisted her except for me. Problem was, I was closer to the front of the plane than the back, and had to run to the back of the plane to stop the situation from escalating. Once I 'escorted' the gentleman back to his seat, other passengers helped out. But truth be told, I was a little annoyed that I was the only person to do anything. After the man was tied up, a young flight attendant 'stood guard.' Personally, I thought it was pretty sad security. When you have the safety of a few hundred people under your control, I think you need to take some precautions. Period.

[dave smithe]

this is silly, this guy should be sued, not the airline. AA can't have masturbation screening on every flight. lets hold this sicko responsible.

[Shop Femina]

What a sick disgusting human being. I hope that he gets at least five years behind bars.

[Rex Osborne]

That poor woman is the victim of a disgusting creep who should be chained to a tree and fed dog food and water for the rest of his life. The airline should pay for not paying attention to what was happening in the passenger section.

[Barbara Blanton]

What is it with a few men in this culture? Masturbating in public into some poor girl's hair, having sex with kids, hiring prostitutes, trying to attract sex in an airport bathroom.... Do we need to take the male boomers out, and discover the perverts so we can try to straighten them out?? Early teens having sex is nothing compared totheir fathers, uncles and priests. Dallas, Tx

[Steve]

$200K??? While I think it was a totally creepy incident, can she really expect this sort of reward from the airline? Passengers change seats all the time, so its not an immediate red-flag and if its 20 minutes before landing (probably less as things progressed) everyone had been instructed to buckle up for landing, including the airplane's staff. If she were going to $50K I suppose I could sympathize more since the guy's most likely going to jail, but I think she's trying to make the most of the situation and cash in.

[Mud]

Where's a good box-cutter when you need one?

[Hank]

Sounds like a very sticky situation.

[The Coach]

Am I the only one who chuckled when I read this? Seriously.

[granolajoe]

People are sure quick to "conclude" never having been on the scene. How about giving the evidence a chance to surface? "Blame" is one of America's #1 "problem."

[The Coach]

Obviously the guy is a sicko. If you think the airline should pay anyway, you're nuts!

These guys can't get you peanuts in a timely fashion and now they are suppose to memorize who is sitting in what seat? Ridiculous.

Prosecute the jagoff (no pun intended) but don't blame the airline!!!

[Neubian]

Why sue AMR ??? because they have $$

Really, who's at fault here? Who was more likely to see the guy masturbating: the flight attendants, or maybe the other passengers? Depending on the guy, this might have taken 60 seconds or less . . . Really, do you want flight attendants walking up and down the aisle every 30 seconds to do a hand check?

[Ken]

can't we all be friends?

[John]

So now you are not allowed to change seats during a flight? They allow that all the time. Why not hold the actual person responsible and not the airlines. You people are just money hungry.

[robert lackey]

this will never end as long as we allow the freaks to sue for every thing that only they can or should be responsible for. wake up dumbass woman. the airline is not responsible for your very delicate sensibilities. more and more and more people fly, every one dies. do the math. the airline isnt responsible for that either.

[Lagniappe's Guy]

Typical Liberals (both this girl and the poster above). Something bad happened to this girl because she wasn't watching out for herself and now instead of suing the person who actually did it, let's sue anyone and everyone else with deep pockets and go for a pay-day.

The airline didn't do a damned thing wrong and there's no reason that they need to give her so much as a bent nickel.

[The guy is the perpetrator not the airline]

The guy is the guilty party not the airline. Passengers do not have tags on their forehead saying what seat there should be sitting in. When you see several hundred strangers a day how are you supposed to know who goes in what seat. Either her emotions are doing the talking or she just knows that the airline has deeper pockets. If she were a flight attendant, I doubt she could live up to her own expectation of being able to babysit every passenger for more than a day.

[JP..Wisconsin...USA]

And I thought that it was United Airlines that flew the 'friendly' skies!

This matter could have been kept private. May have been able to collect more for not publishing (making public) the incident,

[Keith Bolden]

Who are these sick people? This is such primitive behavior. What are we, cavemen with big bats? Jesus.

[Jimmy Crack Corn]

That is disgusting and utterly insane on the part of the man.

I cannot see how that could be prevented, though.

Weren't other passengers watching? Why not sue the spectators?

$200,000k for Cum in the hair? Isn't a bottle of Shampoo about $20?

[Johnny Hughes]

Hope she wins some money. Hope the sicko does some time.

Johnny Hughes, author of the novel, Texas Poker Wisdom