United sued after passenger given nine vodka drinks sexually assaults woman: suit
A first-class United Airlines passenger alleged in a lawsuit that she was sexually assaulted by the passenger sitting next to her after the crew served him at least nine vodka and orange juice drinks.
The alleged incident — detailed in a lawsuit filed against the Chicago-based carrier in a Colorado court on Wednesday — took place during United Flight 1520 from Orlando to Denver on Oct. 2 last year.
The unidentified woman was seated in seat 1A next to the alleged assailant, also unidentified, who was assigned seat 1B. During the first 30 minutes of the flight, the two “had a pleasant conversation.”
“However, once in-flight, the Assailant requested drink after drink” — namely vodka and orange juice, it was alleged in the complaint.
The repeated requests for screwdrivers “caused United’s flight attendant to grow frustrated,” according to the complaint. “To avoid having to continue bringing him drinks so frequently, she began giving the Assailant multiple servings of alcohol at a time … in larger glasses.”
United flight attendants served the man “at least nine servings of alcohol, and possibly more,” according to the complaint.
During the course of the flight, the woman alleged that the drunk man “put his hand on her back” when she got up to use the restroom, according to the complaint.
An hour into the flight, the woman alleged that she “felt something on her leg.”
“Upon realizing it was the hand of the now highly intoxicated Assailant, Ms. Doe lifted it off of her and returned to her reading,” it was alleged in the complaint.
The man “again put his hand on [the woman’s] leg without her permission,” according to the lawsuit.
The woman “placed [his hand] at the Assailant’s side to make clear that the touching was not welcome and needed to stop,” according to the complaint.
The lawsuit alleged that the assault escalated from there as the man continued touching the woman’s leg, inner thigh and “finally digging his hand into [her] crotch, all the while being told to stop,” according to the complaint.
At another point during the flight, the allegedly intoxicated man is said to have “grabbed [her] foot and began to rub it” — prompting the woman to say “No” and pull her foot away.
The intoxicated man “reached under [the woman’s] shawl” and “started touching her back,” it was alleged in the lawsuit, which has since been moved from Colorado state court to Colorado federal court.
He also started “rubbing [the woman’s] breasts three times” whenever he would reach over to adjust the window shade, it was alleged in the complaint.
An hour before landing, the man “reached over [the woman] and put his mouth over her mouth, attempting to kiss her,” according to the complaint.
“You need to stop this now,” the woman said as she “pushed him away in disgust,” it was alleged in the complaint.
United staffers “made no effort to check on [the woman] or determine whether the Assailant’s state of intoxication was creating problems or difficulties for [her],” according to the lawsuit.
The Post has sought comment from United.
