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Romantic relationships often develop among two people who work together. This phenomenon might be especially common within the airline industry, as pilots and flight attendants frequently spend time together far from home. United flight attendant Lisa Denson dated a pilot from the company, Andrew Hill, for approximately five years. On many occasions, they spent nights together in hotel rooms paid for by United while they were traveling for their jobs.

The relationship took a dark turn as Denson discovered that Hill had secretly been recording sexually explicit images of her and posting them online. Eventually, Hill pled guilty to numerous felonies perpetrated against his ex-girlfriend, including eight counts of distribution of pornography by an adult, one count of sexual extortion, and one count of stalking.  

Denson has now filed a lawsuit against United alleging that United is vicariously liable for Hill’s illegal actions. She claims that the company knew, or should have known, that the pilot was using his position to engage in sexual harassment against her and other United employees. To support her complaint, Denson notes that the airline was previously cited by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation for consistent failures in addressing sexual harassment, assault and pornography use. 

Vicarious liability claims often hinge on whether an employee’s wrongful act occurred within the scope of employment and in furtherance of the employer’s business. Intentional criminal acts motivated by purely personal reasons are frequently excluded, but the Denson case might fall within a gray area. Though a pilot or flight attendant is off the clock when they’re in a hotel room, those accommodations are paid for by United because travel to distant cities is an essential part of the job. 

Should you experience sexual harassment or another form of unlawful treatment from a co-worker, you might be entitled to legal relief from your employer. Proving your case could require a detailed review of company training records, policies and previous incidents, so hiring the right employment law attorney is critical. 

Kardell Law Group battles on behalf of employees who have been victimized by sexual misconduct. When you speak with us, we’ll go over all potential avenues for legal relief, including a possible claim against your employer.