Inflight Entertainment: Watching Lawyers Bicker Over an Armrest
Jeff Edwards February 10, 2017
Two passengers, both identifying themselves as officers of the court, zealously and absurdly advocated for their own competing claims for sole custody of the middle armrest.
The latest legal drama to captivate viewers around the globe isn’t available on network television. A wildly popular viral video of two lawyers childishly bickering over the armrest on a commercial airline flight might be the biggest hit since Matlock.
Despite the low production values of the short mobile phone-captured video, the intense dialogue and passionate legal maneuvering that occurred on a Monarch Airlines flight from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) in Spain is earning more praise than the first season of The Good Wife. According to the Daily Mail, the videotaped out-of-court arguments took place on a flight this past New Year’s Eve.
During the chaotic opening arguments, a male passenger admonishes his learned colleague about hogging the armrest. The female armrest-litigant offers a rude counterpoint that soon leads to the pair shouting at each other and a member of the cabin crew sustaining valid the objections of several nearby passengers.
An attempt by flight attendants to dismiss the case by demanding an immediate change of venue was met with hardball legal stonewalling, with both parties refusing to change seats. Each lawyer instead insisted that the opposing counsel be immediately evicted.
“Relocate her, I’m not going anywhere,” the male legal strategist argued his case. “I paid for this seat. This woman is obnoxious and rude. You can relocate her, I’m not moving anywhere, anywhere at all.”
“Do not spit on me,” the female legal scholar quickly countered. “I’m a lawyer and I know my rights.”
“And I’m a lawyer too, you stupid woman!” opposing counsel then offered in a risky legal gambit that earned groans and chuckles from the cabin.
“I’m glad this is recorded,” the female lawyer offered by way of a closing argument. “I am a lawyer and I will sue you guys if you don’t do anything.”
Eventually, a flight attendant declared both attorneys in contempt. The pair of squabbling barristers were separated for the remainder of the flight and both passengers vowed to appeal to a higher authority.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
Disobeying the lawful request of cabin crew is a criminal offence, so both lawyers - having been individually asked to move - would have been the wrong side of the *real* law!
Counsel not council. They might be looking back and be embarrassed how arrogantly they dealt with each other, not realizing how short life is instead of fighting over an armrest. Narrow mindedness at its best.
In my humble opinion, I believe the person stuck in the center seat should have custody of the armrest............
Their first time on a plane or have they always flown up front before ? Either way, may they both get middle seats on all their flights and learn to grin and bear it rather than bare their fangs or worse !
Should have duct taped them to their seats. No worries about arm rests then.