Judge Orders Continental to Pay Manhattan Lawyer $3,110

By Carol Kennedy

Published on November 30, 2005

A judge has ordered Continental Airlines to pay a Manhattan attorney $3,110 after he and his 13-year-old daughter were bumped from a flight.

Thatcher Stone and his 13-year-old daughter were headed for a holiday ski vacation in Telluride last Christmas when they were notified that they were being bumped from their flight. The airline refused to remove their luggage from the plane, which included all of their ski equipment. Stone said he was unable to make other ski plans. Continental gave Stone a $2,000 refund; however, when Stone requested reimbursement for ski lodge accommodations, lift tickets and rental equipment the airline refused, stating the airline was only responsible for up to $400 in passenger reimbursements.

Stone subsequently filed a lawsuit in small claims court alleging breach of contract.

The judge awarded Stone $1,000 for the inconvenience of being bumped, $750 for loss of ability to use winter clothing and skis, and $1,360 for loss of prepaid items.

A Continental spokesman charged the judge with attempting to rewrite federal regulations.

Comment on this article →