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Crew Member Fired for Watching iPad May Cost United Millions

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Jeanne Stroup and Ruben Lee had more than 70 years experience between them when they were fired by United in 2013 for what has been described as a “trivial” infraction. They have already been awarded $800,000 in compensation, but their legal counsel says that this could increase $1.5 million.

Watching an iPad may have cost two veteran United flight attendants their jobs, but their legal representative says that the carrier’s actions against the pair might just see the airline stump up $1.5 million in compensation, Westword reports.

Between the two of them, Ruben Lee and Jeanne Stroup have more than 70 years of experience at United, where they were both exemplary employees. Despite their unblemished records, it is reported that they were fired after a Denver to San Francisco flight in September 2013 for watching an iPad and neglecting to wear aprons while serving passengers.

The pair eventually brought forward a civil case against the carrier, the details of which are described here. While the deliberating jury has already awarded the two employees $800,000 in damages, David Lane, who represents both Lee and Stroup, says that this compensation may well increase.

“We’re not alleging United has a pattern and practice of age discrimination. But in this particular case, they tried to make an example out of a couple of older flight attendants, and it backfired on them,” he explains.

The lawsuit describes the actions that lead to the firing of the pair as being “trivial.” Lane also adds that the move to dismiss the pair “was solely at their [United’s] discretion — in the eye of any individual supervisor how serious any violation was. And that was part of our case.”

Speaking of the potential for any excess compensation due to the pair, he added, “In an age-discrimination case, the jury awards only back pay. It’s up to the judge to award front pay. So, in other words, the jury awards damages from the time of trial back to the time of termination.”

“But the judge decides going forward how much they are out … Add it up, and the grand total United Airlines is going to pay for age discrimination against two flight attendants is about $1.5 million,” Lane said.

[Photo: Shutterstock]

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8 Comments
M
mvoight July 10, 2018

chavala - They did fire them, that is what the lawsuit was about

C
chavala March 24, 2018

Wait a second... They were watching an iPad, together? Instead of doing their jobs? And I’m willing to bet it wasn’t the first time. Fire them and hire someone who has a work ethic. Sick of old, lazy FAs who think they can get away with anything.

F
FlyingNone March 20, 2018

@nadabrainiac, What does the amount of their salaries have to do with anything? Surely you can't believe that FA's with 30-40 years seniority are making the starting salaries you are reading about in assorted stories. For whatever evil or selfish reasons, there are people in management and authoritative positions who can conjure, embellish and lie about things to do harm to others (this is so in many businesses) but totally believable in this case. I hope they not only win millions but that they get their jobs back with back-pay.

F
FlyingNone March 20, 2018

@nadabrainiac, What does the amount of their salaries have to do with anything? Surely you can't believe that FA's with 30-40 years seniority are making the starting salaries you are reading about in assorted stories. For whatever evil or selfish reasons, there are people in management and authoritative positions who can conjure, embellish and lie about things to do harm to others (this is so in many businesses) but totally believable in this case.

K
kirkwoodj March 20, 2018

how is this meaningful?