Settlement Reached in Disabled Fliers Lawsuit

5 Metro Detroit Residents Part Of Lawsuit

WDIV
POSTED: Tuesday, September 27, 2011

DETROIT -- A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit involving several disabled fliers and Northwest Airlines and the Wayne County Airport Authority.

The lawsuit, brought by attorney Richard Bernstein, was filed April 2008 in U.S. District Court in Detroit.

The legal action accused Northwest Airlines and the Airport Authority of failing to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Air Carrier Act and the Rehabilitation Act.

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Farmington resident Jill Babcock was among five disabled metro Detroit residents who were part of the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, Babcock’s wheelchair was damaged several times on Northwest flights and was also given to another disabled passenger by mistake.

The suit claimed that Babcok was also denied accessible parking at Detroit Metro Airport.

Detroit resident Deborah Thomas was also a plaintiff in the case. Thomas, disabled due to childhood polio, claimed she was forced to stand in line when she was physically unable to so.

The settlement that was reached also names Delta Airlines, which purchased Northwest Airlines after the legal action was filed.

Delta Airlines and the Airport Authority have already made some modifications and, according to the agreement, will continue to make changes to Detroit Metro Airport’s McNamara Terminal, North Terminal, parking garages, the Westin Hotel and airport shuttle buses, to better accommodate disabled passengers.

In light of the agreement, the plaintiffs and defendants have agreed to dismiss the lawsuit.