Ares
22nd December 2010, 01:25 PM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Four passengers have filed suit against the Transportation Security Administration because they said the new screening techniques are unlawful and too forceful.
All four of the plaintiffs claim that the TSA is being too aggressive with their new pat-downs.
One woman who came through the Albuquerque International Sunport said agents put her in extreme danger during a pat-down because she has severe health issues.
Documents show that passenger Adrienne Durso was traveling through the Sunport in August. Durso, a breast cancer survivor, said she told screeners that she had just had a mastectomy.
Durso claims that the agent repeatedly and aggressively patted her down exactly where her surgery took place. She said it happened in front of hundreds of passengers, leaving her humiliated and in a great deal of pain.
"She did however leave the airport screening area on the verge of tears," lawyer Alex Brodsky said.
The lawsuit alleges that the pat-down happened in front of Durso's teenage son. When he asked TSA agents why he didn't go through the same screening process, the agent said it was because he didn't have breasts, according to the lawsuit.
"Which demonstrates a lack of professional demeanor on part of the TSA agent that day," Brodsky said.
The Pennsylvania lawyer behind the lawsuit said it is the first of its kind. The goal is to stop the government's new more aggressive pat-downs.
"We don't believe that individuals should be forced to undergo such an invasive extensive screening procedure when there's no reason to believe they've done anything wrong," Brodsky said.
While the lawsuit seeks to prove that aggressive pat-downs are against the law, the victims are also suing for monetary damages.
A trial will be the next step, but a date hasn't been set. That could happen in the next few weeks.
The TSA refused to comment, saying the agency can't talk about pending litigation.
http://www.koat.com/r/26198724/detail.html
All four of the plaintiffs claim that the TSA is being too aggressive with their new pat-downs.
One woman who came through the Albuquerque International Sunport said agents put her in extreme danger during a pat-down because she has severe health issues.
Documents show that passenger Adrienne Durso was traveling through the Sunport in August. Durso, a breast cancer survivor, said she told screeners that she had just had a mastectomy.
Durso claims that the agent repeatedly and aggressively patted her down exactly where her surgery took place. She said it happened in front of hundreds of passengers, leaving her humiliated and in a great deal of pain.
"She did however leave the airport screening area on the verge of tears," lawyer Alex Brodsky said.
The lawsuit alleges that the pat-down happened in front of Durso's teenage son. When he asked TSA agents why he didn't go through the same screening process, the agent said it was because he didn't have breasts, according to the lawsuit.
"Which demonstrates a lack of professional demeanor on part of the TSA agent that day," Brodsky said.
The Pennsylvania lawyer behind the lawsuit said it is the first of its kind. The goal is to stop the government's new more aggressive pat-downs.
"We don't believe that individuals should be forced to undergo such an invasive extensive screening procedure when there's no reason to believe they've done anything wrong," Brodsky said.
While the lawsuit seeks to prove that aggressive pat-downs are against the law, the victims are also suing for monetary damages.
A trial will be the next step, but a date hasn't been set. That could happen in the next few weeks.
The TSA refused to comment, saying the agency can't talk about pending litigation.
http://www.koat.com/r/26198724/detail.html