FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Jurors in a civil lawsuit determined Wednesday that American Airways didn’t bear accountability for an alleged sexual assault in opposition to a flight attendant by a star chef who was employed by the airline as an unbiased contractor.
The jury in state court docket in Fort Value deliberated for components of three days earlier than concluding {that a} sexual assault occurred throughout an organization journey to Germany in 2018, however that American was not concerned.
The chef, Mark Sargeant, has by no means been charged with against the law. He reached a confidential settlement with the flight attendant, Kimberly Goesling, in line with Robert Miller, one in all her attorneys.
The Related Press doesn’t usually title victims of sexual assault however is doing so on this case as a result of Goesling has spoken brazenly to the information media about her case and problems with sexual harassment at American.
Goesling, who later retired after 30 years with Fort Value, Texas-based American, sought $25.6 million in damages from the airline through the trial, which lasted greater than two weeks.
American Airways spokeswoman Lindsey Martin mentioned, “The jury’s choice confirms that American doesn’t tolerate inappropriate sexual conduct of any form.”
Miller mentioned he’ll attraction the decision. He mentioned the choose excluded proof about undesirable advances by Sargeant towards different feminine American Airways workers earlier than the alleged assault in opposition to Goesling.
Sargeant didn’t seem on the trial, though jurors noticed a video deposition. Final yr he informed a information group in the UK that whereas intoxicated he went to Goesling’s resort room within the mistaken perception that she was enthusiastic about him, however he denied sexually assaulting her.