The adult daughter of United Airlines passenger Dr. David Dao and his lawyers held a press conference in Chicago today to discuss the video showing the 69-year-old Kentucky doctor being hauled off a flight.
Attorney Thomas A. Demetrio began with what sounded a lot like an opening court argument saying, "Here’s the law, real simple: If you’re going to eject a passenger, under no circumstances can it be done with unreasonable force or violence. That’s the law.” He added that Dr. Dao was discharged from the hospital Wednesday night after being treated for a concussion and a broken nose and teeth. He will allegedly need reconstructive surgery.
Demetrio said there will "probably" be a lawsuit against the airline. He says passengers have been "bullied" and "treated like cattle" and hopes "This lawsuit will open up a discussion of how we’re going to be treated moving forward." He said he hopes Dr. Dao "becomes a poster child" for passengers who have been treated poorly by airlines.
Dr. Dao's daughter, Crystal Pepper, said, "What happened to my dad should never have happened to any human being, regardless of the circumstance. We were horrified and shocked and sickened to see what happened to him." (CBS News)
The attorney made it sound like the purpose for a potential lawsuit will be to bring about changes in how airlines treat passengers. Of course an enormous settlement is probably another reason.