You *can* sue a big corporation and win!

[Ethan Winer]

I recently sued US Airways for stranding my wife and me in Philadelphia last August, then refusing to refund the cost of our tickets. They jerked me around for half a year, so I finally sued them. The paragraph below is from my claim, and summarizes the events. Last week was the court date and I won. The judge even noted in his verdict that US Airways "acted in less than good faith." So I got back the price of our tickets plus court fees, and also the cost of a one-way car rental from Philadelphia plus gas. (I didn't expect to get the extra money for my time.)

--Ethan

__________________________________

Originally Posted by Small Claims Suit

On August 27, 2009 I booked flights for my wife and myself to visit family in North Carolina. We left from White Plains, NY and made it as far as Philadelphia. The US Airways connecting flight was canceled due to mechanical problems. As confirmed by US Airways agent Owen S. in Philadelphia, US Airways could not get us on a flight back to White Plains. So I had to rent a car one-way, buy gas and dinner, and pay for airport parking. You'll see in the attached emails that US Airways acknowledged on Sept. 8 that they owe us $146. But after literally (not exaggerating) five hours over the next four and a half months on phone calls and 26 (!) emails trying to get my refund, I finally gave up and filed this claim. I have all of those emails saved if needed, but only three are attached for brevity. Since US Airways has not acted in good faith, I feel I am also owed for five hours of my time, in addition to the air fare, rental car, and gas.

[Lute]

Brilliant, well done
A lot of folk are afraid to take on big corporations. Don't be, if they've p1ssed you off and owe you, give em both barrels. I took on a banking institution a while back and they ended up paying me double on the disputed costs. Odds are these places have crappy admin staff that fvck up often. If you've been wronged, go for it.

[ignatius]

nice job! i'm sure it was a huge pain in the ass but i bet you're glad you stuck w/it just for the principle of it all. would be nice if this gets some legs and other people (and the airlines) wake up to the idea that they can use legal means to deal w/small claims.. it'd be nice if companies would just save everyone's time and do what they are supposed to.

many times you can have your credit card company not release funds for a charge.. you just have to file the objection or whatever and they will start a dispute. sort of like a paypal dispute. it worked for me once when Budget rental car added a $75 detailing fee 2 weeks after i'd returned a car i rented (which was clean when i returned it). they sent me a updated receipt in the mail w/the added fee. "hell no!" i called my credit card company right away.

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by ignatius

i'm sure it was a huge pain in the ass but i bet you're glad you stuck w/it just for the principle of it all.

It was a huge pain, on top of the months of emails and BS phone calls I had to put up with. But I was looking forward to the court appearance, and it was actually fun. What's so lame was they sent some terminal manager from a local airport to the court, who's not even a lawyer. The guy was timid and ineffectual and I ran rings around him. Of course, the facts of the case were all in my favor too.

--Ethan

[Teddy Ray]

speaking of multinational corporations, I need to sue Real Traps because after Ethan Said my ART Acoustic Bowls shouldn't work, they stopped working.

[AlexK]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

speaking of multinational corporations, I need to sue Real Traps because after Ethan Said my ART Acoustic Bowls shouldn't work, they stopped working.

Ethan holds more power on this world than you might believe.

*mysterious music*

[joelpatterson]

Say Ethan... have you heard that maybe Mr. Obama is not really an American citizen...?

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

after Ethan Said my ART Acoustic Bowls shouldn't work, they stopped working.

Same for room EQ. I post graphs proving it can't possibly work, then next thing you know it stops working.

--Ethan

[JEGG]

Hello Ethan:
First, congrats.

Now-how did you sue them? Did you have to do this through a state or federal court rather than lowly small claims?

Did they show to present a defense?

Will you have any problem with collecting?

Thanks very much for the info. There are a lot of big companies I'd like to put under the microscope.............

[Ethan Winer]

This was a simple small claims suit. It cost me $75 to file, which I got back added to the rest of the award. As I said above, they sent a terminal manager from the local airport instead of a lawyer. Not that they would have won with a lawyer present. The day I won I emailed their lawyer, who I'd been in contact with, and told her where to send the money. She called me later in the day and said it will be a week or two but my payment is in the works. I'm sure I'll be paid promptly.

This is a good point though. In US courts, all the court does is decide the case. Collecting is another matter entirely! If you sue and win but don't get paid, you have to hire a sheriff to serve papers demanding payment. And if the loser refuses, you might have to go to court again to have some of their employee pay deducted and diverted to you. If they don't work for someone else it can be even more difficult to get money out of their bank account.

--Ethan

[Glenn Kuras]

Last time something like this happened to me the airline put me up in hotel (with dinner) so I could catch the next days flight (flying to the UK). They did not even offer you that?? Seems a bit crazy that you fly to a place and the airline just says "sorry the train stops here".

[Ethan Winer]

Right, and I've had similar good experiences with other airlines. A few years ago I flew to Ottawa to visit a friend in the dead of winter. It was snowing so bad in Ottawa they had to land in Toronto. They put up everyone in a nice hotel, and flew us to Ottawa early the next morning. Since it was snow, not their own mechanical problems, they could have told us we have to sleep in the Toronto terminal! But they didn't.

--Ethan

[Glenn Kuras]

They did not even give you a option?? What about all the other people on the flight? Heck I could have seen CNN getting in on this story if it happened the way you are telling it. I have a good friend who works at CNN maybe I could get her to look into this a bit more. You might end up famous after this whole thing. I can see it now.
"US Airlines landed, told all people to get off the plane and gave them no option to get home. More at 11."

[jampottt]

Glad someone's sticking it to the man. Well done buddy!

[drBill]

Did you have to use any nulling tests to prove your points???

[william_cross]

I'm suing Real Traps.

I installed several and have yet to catch one bass.

Those traps don't work.

I'm going back to using a pole.

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by Glenn Kuras

Heck I could have seen CNN getting in on this story if it happened the way you are telling it.

I have no idea what the other passengers did, but the way I told it is true. Hey, I won the suit.

--Ethan