“Why would United take these actions if Dao was at fault and United blameless?”
Not worth it for them.
There primary goal was to get this story off the front page.
And I am sure the settlement included a non-disclosure so he cant do the talk show circuit and trash United.
I watched the video and I contend that he smashed his face on the armrest across the aisle.
The security guys had him under arms trying to drag him out of his seat and then all of a sudden, Boom!, his face hits the armrest. The security guys didn’t push his head or drop him.
So I think he was thinking payday for the get go.
Not worth it, because United was in the wrong and did not want the endless bad publicity leading up to the inevitable large cash payout.
These big corporations are anything but conservative (see their policies on Sodomite whatever which go back about 20+ years), not responsive to the free market, unaccountable, and perfectly willing to pilfer taxpayers’ pockets in bailouts. And yet, folks here are questioning Dao’s motives?? Unbelievable.