Florida Flyer Plots Lawsuit Against CDC to End Face Mask Mandate
Joe Cortez June 07, 2021
Flyers at airport wearing face masks
A D.C.-based flyer attempting to travel by air within Florida has announced his intention to file a lawsuit against the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to end the national transportation face mask mandate. Lucas Wall is asking a Florida court to knock down the face covering requirement, claiming it should not apply to fully vaccinated travelers.
A vaccinated flyer claims that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control rule on face masks shouldn’t apply to him and intends to sue the government to end the rule entirely. Washington, D.C. ABC affiliate WJLA reports Lucas Wall is suing the CDC, claiming the face covering rule is unconstitutional.
Lawsuit Stems Over Denied Access to Airport Secure Zone
According to Wall, his claim started when he was denied access to the secure zone of Orlando International Airport (MCO). Wall allegedly refused to wear a covering, instead claiming he was fully vaccinated. He also claimed that he was unable to wear a face mask because of “anxiety” and “breathing difficulties.”
Wall was attempting to fly between Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale aboard Southwest Airlines. Transportation Security Administration agents reportedly stopped him from entering the secure zone, citing both the CDC rule and TSA policy. As a result, the flyer says he will take the agency to court over what he calls an “unconstitutional act.”
“I want the entire federal transportation mask mandate struck down,” Wall told WJLA-TV. “I’m going to be seeking an emergency order from the court in Orlando to do that. One of my arguments will be under the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution, the President, the CDC, the TSA, they have no authority to regulate public health matters solely within a state.”
A copy of the lawsuit was provided to the blog View From the Wing. An exhaustive search of court records for the Middle District of Florida did not yield any active lawsuits in Wall’s name against the CDC, Orlando International Airport, Southwest Airlines, or other parties named in the copy of the filing. The CDC or other parties named have not responded to the proposed action.
Face Coverings Remains Most Contentious Point Among Flyers
Regardless of how flyers feel about the face mask rule, all agencies involved in aviation regulations say face coverings are here to stay for the immediate future. The Federal Aviation Administration notes that of all the complaints they have received about poorly-behaved flyers, the majority of the complaints revolve around face covering violations.
I'm convinced that masks on airplanes and in the airport is actually a good idea. So many germs get passed in these locations......kind of good to keep some of this down. So many patently dirty people in America.
By now the cat is way out of the bag that masking is just utter BS. Govt wants to keep us playing the game though. Sorry....game over.
Wearing a mask on a plane is just common sense, like wearing a seat belt. As far as a mask not totally preventing a COVID19 infection that's true, but it doesn't mean it doesn't help mitigate spread. After all, wearing a seat belt on a plane might not necessarily prevent death if the plane crashed. I see some people complaining about being inconvenienced by having to wear a mask. I never hear anybody complaining about somebody else having to wear one.
At this point NOT everyone who wants to be vaccinated has been. My children desperately want to be vaccinated, but can't yet as they are under 12. According to a lot of people's logic here, we should just gamble on their getting COVID-19. Or not travel (nevermind that their great-grandparents might be gone by the time that they can be vaccinated). And yes, statistically, the risk to children from COVID-19 is low compared to older adults, but it was also in the top 10 causes of death for children in 2020. So I might support the logic but only when EVERYONE really has had the opportunity to be vaccinated.
Totally agree with JazzMania - well said!!