American Airlines claims 9-year-old 'should have known' she was being recorded in plane bathroom
Airline Blames Child in Bathroom Spying Case?
American Airlines is facing backlash for arguing in a Texas court that a 9-year-old girl was negligent for using an airplane bathroom with a "visible and illuminated recording device," where she was allegedly recorded by a flight attendant. The attendant, Estes Carter Thompson III, has been indicted for secretly recording multiple girls in airplane bathrooms. The airline's stance has sparked outrage, with critics accusing it of victim-blaming and reaching a "new low" in legal defense.
How did American Airlines respond in the Texas court filing to the civil lawsuit regarding the 9-year-old girl?
American Airlines responded to the civil lawsuit concerning the 9-year-old girl by arguing that the girl was at fault for using an airplane lavatory that she "knew or should have known contained a visible and illuminated recording device." This statement was part of the airline's court filing in Texas, where they suggested that the young girl was negligent in this situation. This legal stance has sparked significant criticism and outrage from the public and legal analysts, as it shifts blame to the minor for the incident where she was filmed without her consent.
What is the nature of the recording devices mentioned as being "visible and illuminated" in the airplane lavatories?
The recording device mentioned in the airplane lavatories is a cellphone used by the flight attendant, Estes Carter Thompson III, to secretly record passengers. The American Airlines lawyers argued that the 9-year-old girl should have known about the recording device since it was visible and illuminated.