A physical altercation that occurred during a June 2016 flight between two American Airlines flight attendants has led to a federal lawsuit.
In her complaint, Kathy Ida Wolfe claims that 56-year-old Laura Powers “maliciously dug her fingernails into my arm and slammed the door of a beverage cart on my arm.”
According to The Dallas Morning News, Wolfe alleges that Powers then “grabbed my scarf, choking me, and dragged me in the aisle and in front of the passengers.”
Wolfe said she followed company procedures and reported the attack to the captain, other flight attendants, and the flight service manager.
“I also reported the assault and battery to legal authorities after American Airlines failed to investigate and/or take action to ensure my safety,” she said in the lawsuit.
Wolfe initially filed the lawsuit in Tarrant County District court back in June before it was refiled in federal court last week.
Attorneys for Wolfe and Powers declined to comment to Dallas Morning News. However, both the defendant and American Airlines filed an answer to the Tarrant County lawsuit stating that they are “not liable because plaintiff caused or contributed to cause the harm for which recovery of damages is sought.”
In her lawsuit, Wolfe alleges that American Airlines was negligent and created a dangerous work environment, which resulted in a breach of contract.
She is seeking up to $1 million in damages.
This lawsuit comes amid recent controversy among passengers and other major commercial airline companies for price gouging.
According to court documents, a class action lawsuit was filed against American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines for allegedly conspiring together to increase fares by limiting capacity on domestic flights.
American denied the allegations but agreed to pay $45 million to avoid the considerable cost, burden, and distraction of this litigation, according to court records.