Airline Retains New Counsel After Facing Backlash
American Airlines has switched law firms after its previous legal team argued a 9-year-old girl was negligent for not noticing a hidden camera phone in an airplane lavatory.
Shift in Representation
An airline spokesperson confirmed on Friday that Wilson Elser, the initial law firm, is no longer defending American Airlines in the lawsuit filed by the girl’s family. American has retained Kelly Hart & Hallman, a Fort Worth-based firm with a history of representing the airline.
Previous Argument Sparked Controversy
The change in legal representation comes after Wilson Elser submitted a court document suggesting the girl’s “fault and negligence” contributed to the incident. The document claimed she should have noticed the “visible and illuminated recording device” in the lavatory. This argument sparked public outrage and accusations of victim-blaming.
Flight Attendant Accused of Recording Children
The lawsuit stems from an incident where a former American Airlines flight attendant, Estes Carter Thompson III, allegedly lured young girls into the lavatory. Thompson, who has been fired by the airline, is accused of taping his iPhone to the toilet seat and claiming it was broken. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Family Seeks Accountability
The girl’s family filed a lawsuit against American Airlines in state court after the FBI discovered videos of their daughter on Thompson’s phone. “We hope that with new legal representation, American Airlines will reassess the situation and take responsibility for what happened to our client,” stated Paul Llewellyn, the attorney representing the girl’s family. Llewellyn also represents the family of another alleged victim, a 14-year-old girl who is suing American in federal court over the same incident.
