A teenage girl has filed a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines, alleging negligence in connection to a horrific incident that occurred during a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Orlando. The lawsuit claims that flight attendants served alcohol to the girl’s assailant and failed to restrain him after he sexually assaulted her. As a result, the attacker then proceeded to touch another passenger on the same flight and harassed the underage girl by making inappropriate gestures towards her and her family as they tried to disembark the plane.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, describes the incident as a traumatic experience that has had a lasting impact on the teenage girl, her young brother, and their mother. The assailant, Brian Patrick Durning, was sentenced to five years in prison for the assault and is currently serving his time in a low-security federal prison in New Jersey.
The family is seeking compensation from Delta Air Lines for the damages suffered as a result of the assault, including lost earnings and emotional distress. The lawsuit does not specify a dollar amount but emphasizes the severe implications of the incident on the victims.
According to court documents, the assailant was visibly intoxicated when he boarded the flight and was served alcohol during the journey. Despite the disturbing behavior exhibited by the assailant, the flight attendants allegedly failed to take appropriate action to protect the teenage girl and the other passengers on board.
The lawsuit highlights the ongoing psychological impact on the victims, with the teenage girl experiencing severe anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and academic difficulties as a result of the assault. Her brother has also suffered from anxiety and developed a fear of flying and interacting with male strangers.
Overall, the lawsuit paints a grim picture of the events that transpired during the flight and underscores the need for accountability and justice for the victims.
Vocabulary List:
- Negligence /ˈnɛɡ.lɪ.dʒəns/ (noun): Failure to take proper care in doing something leading to damage or injury.
- Assault /əˈsɔlt/ (noun): A physical attack or a threat of a physical attack.
- Compensation /ˌkɒmpɛnˈseɪʃən/ (noun): Something typically money awarded to someone in recognition of loss suffering or injury.
- Inappropriate /ˌɪnəˈproʊpriɪt/ (adjective): Not proper or suitable; improper.
- Disturbing /dɪsˈtɜrbɪŋ/ (adjective): Causing anxiety or worry; upsetting.
- Traumatic /trɔːˈmætɪk/ (adjective): Emotionally disturbing or distressing; relating to a physical injury or wound.
