Travelers Get Green Light From Court to Sue Airport Screeners
A U.S. appeals court has rejected the notion that federal airport screeners are immune from lawsuits filed by aggrieved travelers. In a 9-4 decision, the Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ruled that Transportation Security Officers, given their authority to conduct invasive searches of travelers, are essentially law enforcement officers and as such aren’t covered by the immunity granted to most federal agencies and employees. The ruling overturns a lower court judge’s dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Nadine Pellegrino of Florida who claimed her belongings were damaged during a search at Philadelphia International Airport and she was falsely arrested. Writing for the majority,...
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