Karen S. Kim
AIRPORT DISTRICT -- A request to reopen a dismissed lawsuit against
Southwest Airlines was denied Wednesday by Judge Marilyn Hoffman in Los
Angeles.
Cynthia Luther, who weighs more than 300 pounds, filed suit against
the airline in May when she was asked to buy a second seat on a flight
from Reno to Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport. In her lawsuit, Luther
alleges discrimination and harassment because of her size.
Hoffman dismissed the lawsuit in December and upheld the dismissal
Wednesday.
Southwest contended its policies for large passengers is not
discriminatory or illegal and that the same policy is implemented in any
situation where one passenger might affect the comfort of another
passenger.
Luther said in her lawsuit that she sat in one seat, with the armrest
down, and did not encroach on the passengers beside her.
