HOUSTON – Almost two years ago, a pair of United Airlines employees allegedly laughed at, cursed at and even physically injured an area attorney when he asked for a new boarding pass, according to a recently filed lawsuit.
Seeking more than $1 million in damages, Ronald Tigner filed suit against United on June 7 in Harris County. Alejandro Anastasia and Ianthe Phillips-Allred are also named as defendants.
According to the lawsuit, on July 21, 2015, Tigner was attempting to catch a flight out of Bush Intercontinental Airport. He allegedly received a boarding pass that was “illegible” that United refused to reprint.
TSA then refused to allow him to pass through the security checkpoint “because of the illegible pass,” obliging him to proceed back to the United ticketing area.
“Defendants Anastasia and Allred, among other things, refused to offer assistance to plaintiff, laughed at plaintiff, cursed at plaintiff … and Anastasia suddenly, unexpectedly and violently injured plaintiff,” the suit states, adding that United and its employees violated the company’s core value: “We Fly Right.”
The suit does not state what provoked the employee to allegedly injure Tigner, and only contends that nothing Tigner did caused or contributed to the incident.
United is accused of negligently failing to assist Tigner and properly hire and train its employees.
Tigner is demanding all evidence related to the incident be preserved.
He is suing for his past and future mental anguish, medical expenses, pain, lost wages, impairment and disfigurement.
Katy attorney William Hoke represents him.
Harris County District Court Cause No. 2017-37998