Catch an Airline by the Toe: Will Big Eenie Meenie be the next tobacco?

Wall Street Journal ^ | February 12, 2003 | COLLIN LEVEY

[WaveThatFlag]

Southwest Airlines is always trying to be funny. Now a case in which its trademark humor apparently failed is turning out to be the funniest story of all.

This week, a judge in Kansas City, Kan., has cleared for takeoff a discrimination lawsuit against the airline. But Southwest's sin is not about overweight or undertall stewardesses, or even about the racial profile of their pilots. Southwest is in trouble over a children's rhyme. And it could cost them nine, ten, a big fat hen.

[WaveThatFlag]

Would it be fair to say that Southwest is acting in a rther niggardly fashion for not immediatly recognizing the claim and paying these poor women their money?

[Wolfie]

We are doomed.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The plane's passengers chuckled at the quip and the women say they felt discriminated against because people thought they were too dumb to find a seat.

If the glove won't fit, you must acquit.

[WaveThatFlag]

FWIW, Southwest is famous for having wisecracking pilots & stewardesses. This will probably put an end to that culture.
My favorite: "If the ladies and gentlemen on the left side of the plane look out the window and smile, you can show our competitor what a full aircraft looks like."

[mabelkitty]

This is exactly why we meed Miguel Estrada on the DC Appellate court.

I bet they lost in Vegas, which is the real reason they are suing.

[hgro]

This is just a commentary of the "legal profession" as it exits today. Lawyers promote this crappola which lines their pockets and ends up costing the rest of us.

[hgro]

Eenee Meenee Minee Mo, catch a lawyer by the toe. If he hollers, let him collect his 60% fee of any settlement.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Actually, Southwest has been racist from the very beginning.

Their first publicity campaign was "fly SW for peanuts," and that's pretty much the same kind of racist symbol as a watermelon.

[Political Junkie Too]

I'll give this one to Southwest Airlines for free:

"One potato, two potato, three potato, four.
Everybody grab a seat. We have to close the door."

No, wait. Didn't Rhode Island have to take down a Mr. Potato Head display because someone thought that one of them was racist?

Never mind...

-PJ

[BradyLS]

Or how 'bout:

Ring around the rosie, pockets full of posies
Ashes, ashes, SITCHER YER FAT ASS DOWN!!!

[livius]

Aggghhh! I learned that rhyme as "catch a froggie by the toe," and didn't know until fairly late in life that it had any other words. And I betcha the young Southwest flight attendants didn't, either. This is too stupid for words.

[BradyLS]

It is absurd. We've reached the point in this country whereby a plaintiff can insert their own offensive inferences into harmless rhymes to create a perceived slight and stand to gain an award in the millions of dollars, even though they are the ones inconveniencing fellow travelers and impeding the effective performance of those same employees. As another has pointed out, these sorts of frivilous suits only work on companies that actually turn a profit.

We are deep in the belly of the beast. Somewhere in the small intestine, I think.

[blau993]

I suspect it was not a glove these two were having trouble fitting into a seat.

[Michael2001]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/845356/posts

ridiculous