Last summer, flight attendants working for American Airlines decided to sue the company who made their uniforms claiming they had made them incredibly ill. And since the courts move rather slowly, it’s only now happening.
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On August 24th, six women filed the complaint in Chicago against American, as well as Twin Hill Acquisition Company, of Texas (which happens to be a wholly owned subsidiary of The Men’s Wearhouse). Lisa Joy, Kathy Runkle, Veronica Vera, Sandra Stuart, pilot Julie Kresko and former flight attendant Deanna Jones claim that more than 5,000 employees experienced “a cascade of health problems”1 since American rolled out the new gray uniforms in September 2016. Issues included “skin rashes, ear and throat irritation, headaches, fatigue, vertigo, the triggering of various auto-immune conditions and adverse effects on endocrine as well as liver functions.’” 2 (Jones was fired by American after taking too many sick days following the uniform switch.)
The suit alleges:
- Even employees who have not yet had a reaction to the new uniforms areKO endangered because repeated exposure produces increasingly stronger reactions over time
- Uniforms are dangerous to children female employees might bear if they have worn the uniforms while pregnant; some women have lost their hair and also “there have been reports of effects on menstruation including irregular timing, heavier menstruation, and women past menopause who have stopped menstruating commencing to menstruate again.”3
- Twin Hill’s uniforms were tested on pilots two years before being rolled out to the entire workforce and at that time “many pilots reported adverse physical reactions including rashes, flu-like symptoms, headaches, vomiting and respiratory problems” such that the Allied Pilots Association asked American not use the uniforms, a request the complaint alleges was ignored. 4
- The plaintiffs allege that a similar incident happened when Twin Hill sold uniforms to Alaska Airlines in 2011 affecting a third of that carrier’s flight attendants, with some lingering even though Alaska Airlines switched to a new provider in 2014.
Each of the named plaintiffs asserted an individual claim for personal injury damages. They are also seeking an injunction which bars the company from distributing the uniforms, recalls already issued items, for airplanes and any other affected work areas to be cleaned, and a medical monitoring fund for diagnosing future symptoms or injuries.
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The class action suit will include anyone who worked for American and was exposed to a Twin Hill uniform since Sept. 1, 2016. In addition to class certification, the women seek a jury trial.
We will update you as the trial proceeds and more information becomes available.
