Testimony costs flight attendant her job

SignOnSanDiego ^ | July 12, 2002 | Kristen Green

[MizSterious]

Testimony costs flight attendant her job

Airline fires witness for admitting pot use

By Kristen Green
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

July 12, 2002

Denise Kemal was fired June 28, more than two weeks after her nationally televised testimony, because the company has a zero-tolerance drug policy.

Losing her job has ruined her life, Kemal said yesterday. "I've always wanted to fly," she said. "It took me years to get my job."

She said she is appealing the dismissal because smoking marijuana "wasn't an everyday thing." While she waits for an answer, Kemal, 28 and recently divorced, watches the Westerfield trial from the couch of her new Florida apartment.

Kemal was called to the witness stand by the prosecution June 10. She was at the van Dam home Feb. 1, the night 7-year-old Danielle van Dam was last seen, and spent the evening with Brenda van Dam, the girl's mother.

The two had become friendly through their husbands, who both work at Qualcomm. A spokeswoman for Southwest confirmed that Kemal had been fired, but declined to elaborate. She said company policy states that the "illegal use of drugs, narcotics or controlled substances off duty and off company premises is not acceptable and may result in termination because it can affect on-the-job performance and the confidence of our customers in the company's ability to meet its responsibilities."

Kemal said she was just answering questions posed to her during Westerfield's trial because "I want to make sure he gets convicted."

"Because of him, it's just ruined everyone's lives," she said.

Kemal testified that she went out with her Tierrasanta neighbor Barbara Easton and Brenda van Dam to Dad's Cafe & Steakhouse in Poway two Fridays in a row, Jan. 25 and Feb. 1. They were celebrating Kemal's upcoming move to Baltimore, where she had been transferred for work.

The second night out, Feb. 1, she was introduced to Westerfield, whom she has described as "creepy." Westerfield is charged with kidnapping and murdering Danielle. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.

Kemal said the three women first celebrated her move Jan. 25. Kemal and Easton, who lived in the same apartment complex, shared a bottle of wine before driving to the van Dams, Kemal testified. She said she smoked some marijuana in the van Dams' garage before they left for the bar.

The next week, the three women decided to spend that Friday night partying at Dad's again after Damon van Dam canceled plans to go out of town and agreed to stay home with the couple's three children.

On Feb. 1, they smoked pot in the garage a second time, Kemal testified, and she and Easton shared a beer. Later in the evening, they partied at Dad's, where they ran into Westerfield. At one point in the night, they went to van Dam's sport utility vehicle to smoke marijuana again.

Kemal said her supervisors learned that she had smoked pot because customers mailed newspaper articles about her testimony.

She had never had problems at Southwest before the trial, she said. In fact, she regularly received letters of commendation from airline passengers since she was hired in November 1998.

Once, a Texas couple she had met on a flight sent a box of candy to her home. Kemal, in turn, shipped them a set of candles for their living room.

Kemal said that even after Sept. 11, she didn't have any reservations about flying.

"I did it because it's my job, and I love my job," she said. "I get to travel and meet different people. I like to serve the public."

[spectre]

Nahhh...just boring untill the trial picks up. But it is interesting just who loves to get high around here. Me thinks they doth protest too much. Who would have figured?

sw

[RnMomof7]

Good then call for the testing of the waitress who serves you, the guy who pumps your gas. Anybody you might come into contact with. Another lover of the big brother society attitude. How special.

How bout your bus driver, nurse, doctor, pilot, fireman... hate to say this but you have a very sexist attitude..flight attendants are more tham waitresses. they are emergency personal!

[rolling_stone]

Any one remember the dates of the Santa Ana's in February? Per the bug expert testimony...by the way if a body is left in plastic wrap it can be skeletonized in as little as 7 days..per forensic site info.

[spectre]

Yes, Judy and she does have a lovely daughter. It took alot of guts for Mom to take the stand.

sw

[RnMomof7]

You Erics wife?

[parsifal]

I, for one, do not want someone who smokes pot to be in charge of handing me packages of nuts and soft drinks. What if she, in a pot-induced stupor, hands me macadamias instead of salted goobers, or Diet Coke instead of Pepsi? The situation can only get worse if flight attendants are serving mixed-drinks. Can you imagine the potential for disaster. parsy the finicky.

[Freedom2specul8]

{{{{{{WE GET FREEPER HIGH ON LOVE MAN..LOVE YA MAN...HUGGGS AND WET SMOOOOCHES!!}}}} I was readig some previous threads...back to the ones that mizs and I couldn't post on. Sort of reminded me again why we are here...and it's not to bicker. Peace

[spectre]

Nahhh, I don't need to give YOU the circumstances of the fictional "accident" scenerio. I have a strong feeling you would refuse a drug test...just a guess.

sw

[Freedom2specul8]

ya gots that right! I don't want pot smoking sections in restraunts, stone gas station clerks and stoned hair stylists...it just don't work!

[Timesink]

I am surprised she testified about the drug use -- she should have refused to testify on the grounds it would incriminate her. So why did she? Strange.

I don't think you have the option of selectively refusing to answer questions on the stand. You either have to invoke the Fifth universally on every single question they ask you, or not invoke it at all. The moment you answer question one, you've waived your right.

[spectre]

Bickering is fun...what's wrong with it? Just a friendly little exchange of ideas...that's all, Kim. No biggie..(unless they are Jerks)...:~)

sw

[the Deejay]

AMEN!! to your 426 post!! Our LIVES are in THEIR HANDS!!

[RnMomof7]

But in the next breath, Lisa makes a big deal out of saying that IF Westerfields son testifies that it was HIS porn on the computer..then he should be punished...about a year in prison...for down-loading porn!

Do we know the age of the "kids " in the porn? If they were adolesant in appearance..seems that would not be a "sign of preversion" for a 15-18 year old..That would be his age group...a whole different ball game than 7 yr olds!

(not saying porn is ok..but an observation on the age thing)

[Timesink]

A spokeswoman for Southwest confirmed that Kemal had been fired, but declined to elaborate. She said company policy states that the "illegal use of drugs, narcotics or controlled substances off duty and off company premises is not acceptable and may result in termination because it can affect on-the-job performance and the confidence of our customers in the company's ability to meet its responsibilities."

*snicker* This customer lost confidence in your abilities the day you admitted you're Bigoted Bastard Airlines. How much does Kemal weigh? Maybe they were already looking for an excuse to fire her.

[the Deejay]

"I am surprised she testified about the drug use -- she should have refused to testify on the grounds it would incriminate her. So why did she? Strange."


Because THAT GROUP can't *think* past a minute. Besides, they have to get DW convicted at ANY cost.

[EllaMinnow]

Kimmie, I have let about 6 perfect straight lines go today...when people set themselves up perfectly for a put-down. But I didn't bite...

Wouldn't be prudent!

[RnMomof7]

Sexist comment showing your ignorance..may you never hava a need for more than a sprite as you fly over NY

[Freedom2specul8]

Hey, it's ok to have fun with you..you know how to handle disagreements..although I've not understood why we couldn't get the disagreement with you and amore worked out. (not wanting to debate that again..just saying she should be back by now) You wrote some nice comments about mizs and I on those threads...I DO APPRECIATE those very much.

[RnMomof7]

MIz..if that girl was never bound it was NOT DW...

No way!

[MizSterious]

Ah, I see you live in a fools' world for sure, Parsy. Flight attendants do a lot more than deliver drinks and peanuts when the flight goes bad. If you're ever on one of those--and I was once--you might hope the FAs do more than holler, everyone light up, everyone's on their own!