Airline Post

Yes, two flight attendants are, indeed, suing a national weather forecasting service for an incorrect guess on the day’s weather. I say “guess,” because that’s all it really ever is.

Two Alaska Airlines flight attendants who were injured when a 2007 flight from Seattle to California encountered turbulent air have filed a legal claim against a national weather forecasting service and against the U.S. government.

Donna Dacko and Inga Isakson were working on the flight to Ontario, Calif., on Dec. 25, 2007, when the aircraft hit “previously unreported severe turbulence” before landing, according to the claim filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Here’s what’s going to happen. Their claim is going to make it through the legal system, because with our legal system, a monkey could file a claim, and their going to get paid to go away. One of the biggest flaws in our legal system is that it’s cheaper to pay someone to go away than it is to prove how stupid they are.

I’m not saying these two attendants weren’t seriously injured or that what happened didn’t completely ruin their day. But really? You’re suing someone for not being able to predict turbulence? I have a feeling an ambulance chaser of a lawyer was involved in this one.

Despite what I said before about how they’ll probably get paid to go away, part of me hopes this claim gets fought. Otherwise, it will set a precedent that whenever you hurt yourself in unreported weather, you can sue someone. It’s just like when people started shoving 20 Big Macs down their throat a day, and later sued because there was no warning that said “Eating 20 Big Macs a day might result in obesity and then all the good things that come with obesity.” Now our legal system is filled with claims like the above, hypothetical scenario.

When I take my flight to Denver in March, now I know I should think of a new way to file a frivolous claim that can get me paid off. How about leaving my knee out in the aisle and let it get banged when the flight attendants go down the aisle with their cart to pass out drinks? NOBODY WARNED ME!

[via BND]

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