The upset and unrest resulting from the USA’s new paranoid heightened security measures have made the headlines yet again. This time a woman is suing over an incident where airport staff allegedly pulled down her top and joked about her breasts in public view.
The 23-year-old traveller, from Amarillo, US, is suing the US Government for the emotional distressed she says the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents caused.
The woman says she was singled out for “extended search procedures” while preparing to board a plane to Amarillo in May 2008.
“As the TSA agent was frisking plaintiff, the agent pulled the plaintiff’s blouse completely down, exposing plaintiffs’ breasts to everyone in the area,” the lawsuit said.
“As would be expected, plaintiff was extremely embarrassed and humiliated.”
This scanner would be a darn sight quicker to get through at security...
The lawsuit claims that other employees laughed and made jokes about the incident “for an extended period of time”.
The distraught woman left the screening area to be consoled but when she re-entered the boarding area employees allegedly started joking about the matter.
“One male TSA employee expressed to the plaintiff that he wished he would have been there when she came through the first time and that ‘he would just have to watch the video,’” the suit said.
She wishes to remain anonymous due to privacy reasons.
Lawyers for the US Government confirm that the woman went through secondary screening, but deny airport staff acted inappropriately. Naturally.
Scott Snowden
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