Plaintiff: Norma Carrubba
Defendant: United Airlines
What’s at issue: Whether the airline was negligent for a fall Carrubba suffered while exiting an airplane. Carrubba’s complaint in U.S. District Court claims that on December 1, 2006, the Greene County resident boarded a plane in Charlottesville headed for Cleveland. In Cleveland, winds were at 45mph and it was raining and sleeting when the airplane landed on the tarmac. As it was only a small Mesa Airlines plane (owned by United), passengers were required to descend the stairs onto the runway, including Carrubba, who is wheelchair-bound. According to her complaint, the flight attendant demanded that she descend on her own—despite her protests—while two United employees waited at the bottom with a wheelchair. When Carrubba finally relented and started down, she slipped on an icy third step and tumbled all the way to the tarmac.
What’s at stake: $100,000. Carrubba says she suffered personal injuries as a result of her fall, including a fractured ankle and severe bruising.
What’s the status: Originally filed in Greene County, Carrubba’s suit was then moved to federal court in Charlottesville. On February 19, United/Mesa Airlines filed a motion to dismiss and an answer denying any wrongdoing on the part of Mesa.
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