A Michigan appellate court ruled Thursday that Lynette Love’s negligence lawsuit against Alaska Airlines Inc. could continue, despite the airline’s attempt to have the case dismissed. The case stems from an incident in which Love, a ticket agent at the Detroit Metro Airport, fell after a conveyor belt was activated while she was crossing over it to access a supply cart.
The Michigan Court of Appeals majority found that Love’s claim that the airline created an unsafe work environment by placing baggage conveyor belts around each workstation could proceed. While the court ruled that Love could not bring a premises liability claim—since Alaska Airlines did not possess the ticket area—the negligence claim focusing on the workplace arrangement and lack of proper training and policies was allowed to continue.
The ruling upheld a Wayne County Circuit Court decision partially granting and partially denying Alaska Airlines’ motion for summary judgment. The appellate panel found that the airline had a general duty to provide a safe work environment, even though it did not own the ticket area where the accident occurred.
