American Airlines is facing serious legal claims in a newly removed federal case, as former customer service agent Alysha Hathaway alleges she was physically assaulted by her supervisor and ultimately forced to resign after repeated inaction and retaliation by the company.
Filed originally in California Superior Court and now moved to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the American Airlines assault victim lawsuit forced resignation centers on Hathaway’s claims that her workplace became intolerable after she reported escalating physical abuse—including punching, hair-pulling, and kicking—by her supervisor between 2022 and 2023.
According to the lawsuit, despite multiple complaints and an eventual internal investigation, Hathaway was placed on unpaid leave and left without answers regarding her employment status. She contends that the company ignored her attempts to return to work, leaving her with no option but to resign under duress.
“Ms. Hathaway felt compelled to end employment because of the intolerable working conditions created by American Airlines,” the complaint states. Hathaway also claims the company violated the Washington Law Against Discrimination by failing to prevent harassment, retaliating against her for reporting it, and discriminating against her due to mental health conditions.
The complaint further alleges that the abuse—witnessed by co-workers and other managers—was both verbal and physical, including repeated instances where Hathaway was stabbed with pens, had objects thrown at her, and was mocked for her appearance and mental health.
Although the supervisor in question was eventually terminated, Hathaway alleges that retaliation continued from co-workers and management alike. She describes being socially isolated, gossiped about, and blocked on social media platforms by colleagues, allegedly at the direction of another manager.
Representing Hathaway is Patrick B. Reddy of Emery Reddy PLLC, while Nicholas A. Gillard-Byers of Seyfarth Shaw LLP is representing American Airlines.
The case is titled Hathaway v. American Airlines Inc et al., case number 2:25-cv-01325, currently before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
