Alaska’s most popular airline has been responding to a lawsuit filed by an ex-state senator, saying that the claim “contains numerous flaws,” and urged the federal court in Anchorage to dismiss the case.
Former state senator. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, sued Alaska Airlines in April in which she claimed she was violated by the company’s rights under the Constitution by having barred her from aircrafts following her confrontation with officials from the airline in Juneau about the policy of the company on facemasks that was intended to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Reinbold is also claiming that the airline was responsible for her embarrassment and anxiety and requested for a federal judge’s approval to award her damages.
In a formal reply filed on Tuesday with Alaska District Court Judge Joshua Kindred, attorneys representing the airline claimed that Reinbold’s aversion towards rules governing masks is obvious and so is her aversion towards federal rules that govern travelling during the pandemic but the language used in the complaint “leaves almost everything else in her case to speculation and guesswork.”
Reinbold is self-represented in the suit. In addition, she names eight airline executives and the company within her lawsuit.
However, the document doesn’t specify the alleged violations of federal law are applicable to who, which means Reinbold isn’t able to file an legally actionable complaint as the airline’s lawyers said.
“Plaintiff has not stated any legally valid claims against any defendant,” they wrote.
Additionally, they stated that the actions of the company were justifiable by federal laws that were in effect that time. The rules required the masking of.
Alaska Airlines banned the then-senator from its aircraft in April 2021, following multiple disputes with employees of the company and complains from customers who complained that they felt uncomfortable after Reinbold had her mask removed on the course of her flight.
“Plaintiff had the right to her personal beliefs regarding COVID-19” lawyers for the company stated. “She was but able to use her personal views to defy or ignore the federally mandated rules regarding air travel which were applicable to all Alaska Airlines guests during a world-wide epidemic.”
Alaska Airlines was the only airline that operated a regularly scheduled passenger services between Juneau to Anchorage until April of 2021 Reinbold’s complaint states she was entitled to an “constitutional and legal right to be able to access flights operated by Alaska Airlines to fly to and from Juneau.”
The firm’s lawyers were not in agreement, stating that there is no constitutional right to travel on an aircraft, even though that is the most practical means of travel.
“As for travel within the state it’s unclear if the right to travel is Constitutionally protected,” the company’s attorneys said. “As it was explained by the Ninth Circuit recently explained, the Supreme Court has cast doubt regarding the constitutionality of travel between states.”
Reinbold did not answer an inquiry via phone on Wednesday. Robert Richmond, an attorney representing Alaska Airlines, declined comment.
