A Philadelphia attorney is suing Delta Air Lines Inc., alleging negligence, breach of warranty and additional counts in an airplane boarding procedure fracas.
Robert Land of Philadelphia filed a lawsuit Sept. 21 in U.S. District Court Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas against Delta Air Lines, alleging false imprisonment in 2013 when he says he was banned from entering an aircraft for which he had purchased a ticket.
The lawsuit states on April 19, 2013, Land boarded a flight from Philadelphia International Airport, bound for Atlanta with a second leg scheduled to depart Atlanta for San Diego.
According to the complaint, no agent was present when Land arrived at the gate for his flight in Atlanta. The plaintiff states when he entered the jetway, he was confronted by an agent named Hicks who told him the flight was closed and pushed him.
The suit states when Land boarded the plane and refused to deplane, he was arrested by an Atlanta police officer named Turner, handcuffed, detained in the officer’s vehicle and in an Atlanta holding cell, then transported to a city prison, where he was booked, photographed, fingerprinted and charged with disorderly conduct.
Land alleges after he posted bail, criminal charges against him were dropped. The plaintiff charges the defendant with false imprisonment, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence in screening, training and supervising its employees, and breach of warranty.
The suit says the plaintiff suffered orthopedic and neurological injuries to his neck, shoulders and arms, nervous shock, and post-traumatic stress resulting in mental anguish and impaired daily activities.
Land seeks compensatory damages of more than $50,000, interest and court costs. The plaintiff is self-represented.
U.S. District Court Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas 2:15-cv-05240-MAK.