Battered Beverly Hills Widow Sues American Airlines With Libel Charges, Claims Their Air Rage Campaign Is a Smoke Screen Against Rights of Passengers.Business Editors BEVERLY HILLS Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 7, 2000 American Airlines American Airlines Major U.S. airline. American was created through a merger of several smaller U.S. airlines and incorporated in 1934. It continued to buy the routes of other airlines, becoming an international carrier in the 1970s; its routes include South America, the Responds Immediately Before Being Served; Demands Trial by Jury in Federal Court Marcelle Becker, the wealthy socialite widow of insurance magnate Martin Becker, has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against American Airlines. The complaint states damages for libel both in general ($5 million) and punitive damages Monetary compensation awarded to an injured party that goes beyond that which is necessary to compensate the individual for losses and that is intended to punish the wrongdoer. (amounts unspecified). "Isn't it amazing that the airlines are all over the news today speaking about `unruly passengers,' yet they fail to reveal their records about unruly flight attendants and captains," stated Becker. Marcelle Becker originally sued American Airlines on April 3, 1996, in Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. Superior Court for assault & battery on herself and animal cruelty. For the next three years the case made international headlines because of the unusual circumstances of the alleged assault (Becker was tied up with her own dog leash by the captain). On March 10, 1999, a jury ruled in favor of American Airlines. This ruling is currently on appeal due to alleged misconduct of retired Judge Robert Altman. Attorneys Richard Lowe and John Pierson John Pierson can refer to:
In 1998, three years after the incident and only months before Marcelle Becker's day in court, she was indicted INDICTED, practice. When a man is accused by a bill of indictment preferred by a grand jury, he is said to be indicted. by the U.S. Attorney's Office for interrupting the operation of an airliner in flight and faced a 20-year prison term. The charges were dropped against her in July 1999 when famed Washington, D.C., lawyer Mark Lane discovered that "the indictment was obtained using tainted and biased information provided to the government by American Airlines in retaliation for Mrs. Becker's lawsuit against them." The new libel suit filed in Superior Court was noticed by American Airlines, which has not yet been served. In a highly unusual tactic, the airline has just demanded a jury trial and a transfer to Federal Court where its dismissed indictment began. "They are attempting to avoid the bad publicity they will receive from this action by Mrs. Becker," stated her attorney, Richard Lowe. Excerpts from the complaint include: "...American Airlines had sent letters and ... documents to the U.S. Attorney offices accusing her of criminal activity ... on flight 19 on July 6, 1995, from NY to LA ... Documents were selectively chosen to create a false impression of plaintiff (Becker) ... the U.S. Attorney was urged by defendant (American) to indict in·dict tr.v. in·dict·ed, in·dict·ing, in·dicts 1. To accuse of wrongdoing; charge: a book that indicts modern values. 2. ... even though they had previously declined to do so. The ... documents (published with malice ... clearly exposed (Becker) to criminal prosecution and caused her to suffer hatred, contempt, ridicule ... (and) was indicted on charges ... potential 20 years in prison. The materials described (were) read ... in newspapers ... radio ... television throughout the nation ... (suffering) loss of her reputation, shame, mortification MORTIFICATION, Scotch law. This term is nearly synonymous with mortmain. ... (and) hurt feelings." Marcelle Becker vs. American Airlines Case No. BC230916 Superior Court County of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. (Judge Robert O'Brien) |
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