FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- An American Airlines
(NASDAQ:AAL) flight attendant who says she was sexually assaulted
by a celebrity chef hired by the airline will get the chance to
tell her story to a jury, following a key ruling by a Tarrant County district court judge.
The ruling, by Judge Kimberly
Fitzpatrick, rejects all portions of a motion for summary
judgment filed by American that sought to avoid allowing a jury to
hear the case. The case is set for trial in her 342nd
Judicial District Court January
24.
"Our belief has always been that when a jury in Fort Worth hears this case and they hear what
happened to my client – and how American ignored her and then
retaliated against her – they will be appalled," says attorney
Robert Miller of Miller Bryant
LLP in Dallas, who represents
the plaintiff. "All we have ever wanted is a chance to tell our
story to a jury and now we have that chance."
The plaintiff in the case, Kimberly
Goesling of Fort Worth,
first publicly told the story of what happened to her – and
American's role in it – in a 2021 Facebook and Instagram video that
has reached more than 25,000 people. Click here to watch or go
to metooaa.com to learn more.
Ms. Goesling, a nearly 30-year flight attendant for the airline,
has a work record that puts her among the company's best. She was a
flight crew leader and worked on the airline's recruitment and
training teams. More than once, she received glowing reviews for
work performance, often resulting in special assignments.
In January 2018, one such trip
took her to Germany, where along
with other American Airlines employees, she helped develop a
special international menu for first- and business-class
passengers.
Also on the trip was a celebrity chef whom American hired
without a background check and continued to employ even after it
learned of prior allegations against him for alcohol abuse and
inappropriate sexual conduct, according to the lawsuit. On the
final night of the group's stay, the chef forced his way into Ms.
Goesling's hotel room and sexually assaulted her. American's own
investigation later showed he admitted to the attack.
When she reported the attack to the company, managers promised
to pay Ms. Goesling for treatment and allow her time away from work
shifts, as needed. They did neither, instead removing her from her
coveted position on the airline's recruitment team.
Her lawsuit includes claims of sexual assault, conspiracy and
retaliation. The case is Kimberly
Goesling v. American Airlines et al., Cause No.
342-314565-20 in the 342nd Judicial District Court in Tarrant County.
Dallas-based Miller Bryant LLP
represents companies and individual clients from the U.S.,
Canada and the Far East. We focus
on Texas business law and civil
dispute resolution. More information at
https://www.miller-bryant.com/.
Contact:
Mark
Annick
800-559-4534
mark@androvett.com
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SOURCE Miller Bryant LLP