So how does Dao being convicted of paying for gay sex with drugs have anything to do with justifying United Airlines handling of the passenger? That conviction was 12 years ago.
The laws handing overbooking require that;
1) Cash not vouchers be offered before physical removal (up to about $1500 per passenger).
2) Written notification of rights be handed to the passenger(s) beforehand.
3) Open offers be given to all passengers – first come first serve for rebooking with compensation before physical removal.
None of these were done. That makes United’s and ‘associates’ act a very simple felony assault and battery – and this one is not 12 years ago.
I would also wonder if any stand-by passengers were boarded because usually they are the first to be denied. In many cases ‘deadhead’s are done as standby because they are costing the airline so they use open seats instead of bumping paying passengers.
I think the media should be concentrating on what the laws covering passenger rights are as well as how United and ‘associates’ violated these laws instead of bowing to the pressure of the corporate interests (corporatocracy) and trying a smear campaign to try to discredit and reduce any awards that Dr. Dao might get.
