Originally Posted by
js1993
Why are you being so cryptic about some small-claims lawsuits resulting from one event 10 years ago that are supposedly so relevant to this situation?
FlyingUnderTheRadar’s post is correct and sufficiently representative of what I know from quite a lot of relationships with the lawyers working in and for airlines and elsewhere in the aviation-related world.
Some here may want to check this out from our beloved federal government to get some indications of what flies with regard to small claims court claims against airlines in such situations:
https://www.transportation.gov/airco...-tell-it-judge
There is this nugget in the above link too:
Originally Posted by US DOT
Because most small claim courts do not allow attorneys to be present, you are expected to be your own lawyer. However, you may wish to see a private attorney in situations such as the following:
Not sure “most” is accurate or not, but there are most certainly many small claims courts where there are restrictions on the ability of lawyers to be in court for purposes of making a claim or representing a defense in small claims court.
The DOT even insinuates that a claim from missing booked activities may be ordered to be covered by a small claims court decision:
Originally Posted by US DOT
My wife and I were going on a Caribbean vacation. We held confirmed airline reservations to St. Thomas, where we were to meet several other couples. We all had chartered a sailboat to cruise the islands. However, when it was time to board our flight, the airline bumped us because they were overbooked. The next available flight was two days later. As a result we had to buy additional airline tickets to catch up with the sailboat at Antigua. The airline paid us "denied boarding compensation," but they refused to reimburse our additional air fare or the value of the two days on the cruise we lost.
Sound familiar? Unfortunately, this consumer is not alone in his frustration. Most people at one time or another feel cheated, confused and helpless. Now, however, when nothing else seems to work, thousands of people without legal training are turning to small claims courts to get results.