## SERVE D OCTOBE R 14 , 201 1 lE;-'ARiMENTO F iRANSFORWIO M •^•••'^KE ^ OPERATION S 

### i m

### ill ] np [ : ii 5 UNITED STATE S DEPARTMEN TO FTRANSPORTATIO N

OFFIC EO PHEARING S WASHfNGTON , D.C . FEDERA LAVIATIO N ADMINISTRATION ,

Complainant , V . RODD YL . COX ,

Respondent . . FA ADOCKE TNO . CPIOGLOOO S (Civi l Penalt yAction ) DMSNo . FAA-2010-062 3 

### INITIA LDECISIO N O F ADMINISTRATIV E LAWJUDG E RICHAR D C . GOODWI N Found : 1 ) Responden t violate d 1 4 C.F.R . §121.58 0 o fth e Federa l Aviatio n Regulation s a s charge d i n th e complaint ; 2 ) Responden t i s hereb yassesse d a civi l penalt> ' o f$1,100 . 

### I . Backgroun d 

### O n Jul y26 , 2009 , Rodd yL . Co x("Cox " o r"Respondent" ) was a passenge r o n boar d AirTra n Airway s fligh t 349 , operatin g nonsto p fro m Lo s Angeles . C A C'LAX" ) t o Milwaukee , W l ("MKE") . Durin g th e flight , Cox' s conduct , a s viewe d b y th e Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n ("Complainant, " "FAA, " o r"th e agency" ) le d t o th e filin g o fth e instan t charge . Th e Complain tallege s tha t Co xviolate d sectio n 121.58 0 o fth e Federa l Aviatio n Regulation s ("FARs") , 1 4 C.F.R . §121.580 . Sectio n 121.58 0 states :

N o perso n ma

yassault , threaten , intimidate , o rinterfer e wit h a

. crewmembe ri n th e performanc e o fth e crewmember' s dutie s aboar d a n aircraf t bein g operate d unde rthi s part .Th e agenc yaske d fo ra civi l penalt yo f$1,100 . Responden tdenie d th e

charge . I hel d a hearin g o n Februar y1 , 2011 , i n Milwaukee . Responden tfaile d t o appear . 

### II . Discussio n A . Decisio n i foun d tha tth e agenc yprove d it s case . Further , I levie d a civi l penalt y agains t Responden t o f$1,100 , a s th e FA Aha d propose d (Tr . 49-50) . Thi s Initia l Decisio n ("I.D." ) memorialize s an d detail s m yfinding s an d conclusions. . B . Th e Inciden t Th e FA Apu t o n tw o witnesse s an d introduce d thre e exhibits . Jennife r Rui z wa s Complainant' s firs t witness . Sh e i s a fligh tattendan temploye d b y AirTran . O n thi s fligh t sh e wa s th e "C " attendant , workin g i n th e rea ro fcoac h class . Coac h clas s o n thi s Boein g 737-70 0 aircraf tconsist s o fthre e seat s o n eithe rsid e o fa n aisle . Ms . Rui z testifie d tha t sh e encountere d Mr . Cox , th e respondent , whil e sh e wa s servin g passenger s fro m a beverag e car t i n th e aisle . Thi s servic e wa s th e firs t o fthre e service s th e fligh tattendant s wer e schedule d t o perfor m o n thi s approximatel yfour-hou rfligh t (Tr . 10-11 , 14-18) . Ms . Rui z state d that , facin g th e front , sh e ha d stoppe d a tRo w17 . Ro w1 7 i s on e ro wfro m th e rea ro fth e aircraft . A ttha tpoin tMr . Cox , sittin g i n 17C , tappe d he rbotto m wit h a cu p h e wa s holdin g an d requeste d a sof tdrink . Sh e replied , "Yes , jus t don' t touc h m ybut tnex ttime. " Rui z the n move d th e car t u p tw o rows , t o Ro w15 , befor e turnin g aroun d an d addressin g Respondent . Sh e aske d him , "No wwha t woul d yo u like? " Respondent , sh e testified , becam e belligeren t an d hostile . H e replied , " I don' twan tanythin g yo u have . You'r e a n idiot . You'r e a fuckin ' idiot; " (Tr . 10-11 ; Exh . C-1) . H e continue d i n thi s vei n a s h e storme d of ft o th e rear . Ms . Rui z said . H e continue d t o us e antagonisti c languag e liberall ymixe d wit h profanit y(Tr . 18-19 ; Exh . C-1) . Ms . Rui z state d tha t sh e fel t intimidate d an d uncomfortabl e - s o muc h s o tha t sh e aske d th e "B " fligh t attendant , wh o wa s workin g th e fron tsid e o fth e beverag e cart , t o switc h place s wit h he r(Tr . 15 , 17) . Sh e feare d anothe r confrontatio n wit h thi s passenger . Ms . Rui z als o foun d hersel funabl e t o perfor m he rothe rduties . Sh e di d no t d o th e secon d an d thir d servic e normall yperforme d b yfligh t attendant s i n th e firs t hou ro fflight . No rwa s sh e abl e t o collec t hersel f sufficientl yt o perfor m a n arriva l chec k later . A n arriva l chec k i s a mandator y functio n performe d jus tprio rt o landin g whic h obligate s fligh tattendant s t o determin e i fpassenger s ar e i n complianc e wit h safet yregulation s (Tr . 22-26 ; Exh . C-1) .Ms . Rui z notifie d th e captai n o fth e inciden t involvin g Mr . Co xsoo n afte ri t

occurred . Befor e disembarkatio n Rui z als o submitte d a statemen tsummarizin g i t (Exh . C-1) . Fo rMs . Rui z th e effect s o fthi s experienc e lingered . Sh e wa s unabl e t o wor k a t al l fo ra month . Sh e als o wa s unabl e t o wor k o n an yflights , othe rtha n th e shortes t available , fo ra yea r(Tr . 29-31) . Edwar d J . Roone ywa s Complainant' s secon d an d fina l witness . H e i s th e la wenforcemen t representativ e fo rth e Transportatio n Securit yAdministratio n ("TSA" ) fo rth e Stat e o fWisconsin . H e testifie d tha th e ha d bee n calle d t o MK E o n Jul y26 , 2009 , i n respons e t o a repor to fa n unrul ypassenger . H e interviewe d Mr . Co xafte rCo xha d exite d th e plane . A ttha tpoin t Co xwa s i n th e custod yo f loca l an d federa l authorities . The yha d bee n calle d t o th e arrivin g aircraf t afte r th e pilo t ha d radioe d la wenforcemen tabou t Respondent' s behavio ran d ha d requeste d assistanc e (Tr . 33-37) . Mr . Roone ytestifie d tha t Responden t admitte d makin g th e comment s atthbute d t o hi m b yMs . Rui z i n he rstatemen t(Tr . 37 ; se e Exh . C-1) . Mor e specifically , h e admitte d touchin g her ; usin g th e expletive s stated ; an d "gettin g i n he rface. " (Tr . 38-43 ; Exhs . C- 2 an d C-3) . C . Finding s an d Conclusion s I reaffir m m yfindin g a t th e hearin g tha tResponden tviolate d §121.58 0 a s charged . Complainan t prove d tha t Responden tintimidate d an d assaulte d a crewmembe ran d interfere d wit h th e performanc e o fa crewmember , al l i n violatio n o ftha t provision . Th e discussio n abov e demonstrate s tha tRespondent' s offensiv e an d truculen t conduc t significantl yinterfere d wit h th e dutie s o fth e "C " fligh tattendant , Jennife rRuiz . O n accoun t o fhi s behavior , sh e becam e unabl e t o perfor m severa l o fhe rduties . Respondent' s conduc t als o create d a generalize d an d entirel yreasonabl e fea ro fhim . Thes e consequence s o fCox' s behavio reac h mak e ou t a violatio n o f§121.580 . Additionally , Cox' s touchin g o fMs . Ruiz ' rea r no t onl ywa s outrageous , but , a s a n unwante d touching , constitute d a n assaul t unde r§121.580 . Howar d Gotbetter , FA AOrde rNo . 2000-1 7 (Augus t11 , 2000) . A s such . Responden t committe d thre e independen tviolation s o f§121.580. ^

' I not e that th e repeate d use o fprofanity , whic h characterize d Respondent' s languag e i n addressin g Ms . Ruiz , ca n itsel fcreat e a n atmospher e o fintimidatio n sufficien t t o violat e §121.580 . I t suggests a n individua l unabl e t o contro l hi s emotion s an d who , a s such , appear

s t o pos e a ris k

o fhann . Avigdo rShallit . FA ADocke i No . CP99EA005I , Jiiilia l Deas'io n o fAdrnmstrat^v e La wJudg e Burto n S . Koik o date d Septembe r22 , 2000 , 200 0 FA ALexi s 955 .

### III . Penalt y A t th e hearin g 1 assesse d a civi l penalt yagains tResponden t o f$1,100 . I affir m tha t findin g an d explai n i t i n th e discussio n following . Apenalt yassessmen t i n a cas e suc h a s thi s mus tweig h a respondent' s behavio ran d evaluat e it s effect . I n thi s light , 1 foun d tha t a n assessmen t o f $1,10 0 wa s full ywarrante d (Tr . 50) . Th e belligeren t an d fundamentall ydisrespectfu l characte ro fRespondent' s behavio rno t onl yinterfere d wit h th e dutie s o fth e "C " fligh tattendan t an d intimidate d her , bu t represente d a direc t challeng e t o he rauthority . Mr . Cox' s conduc t undermine d th e integrit yo fa proces s primaril ydesigne d t o ensur e saf e an d secur e trave l fo rpassenger s an d crew . Michae l Bengry , FA AOrde rNo . 2003- 9 (Septembe r12 , 2003) . A s I pointe d ou ta t th e hearing , fligh tattendant s ar e no t waiter s (Tr . 52) . The yperfor m vita l safet yfunction s aboar d operatin g aircraft . Afligh tattendant' s primar yresponsibilit yi s no t t o secur e passengers ' comfort , bu tt o ensur e thei r safet yan d security . The yrespon d t o in-fligh t emergencie s a s wel l a s guarante e tha t passenger s an d luggag e ar e prepare d properl yfo rcritica l phase s o ffligh t suc h a s landing . Fligh t attendant s mus talway s b e full yread yt o dea l wit h matter s whic h pos e a ris k t o th e safet yan d securit yo fflight , suc h a s turbulence , rapi d cabi n decompression , o rworse. ^ I fa fligh tattendan t ha s t o dea l wit h a n antagonistic , hostil e passenge ran d suffer s consequence s suc h a s intimidatio n an d persona l distress , h e o rsh e i s compromise d i n attendin g t o suc h criticall y importan t duties . Se e Shelle yLouis e Conger , FA AOrde rNo . 2007- 8 (Augus t2 , 2007) , p . 1 2 n . 15 ; Pete rHoutenbos , FA AOrde rNo . 2002-2 4 (Novembe r22 , 2002) , p . 11 . W e hav e see n tha t tha t i s exactl ywha toccurre d i n thi s case . Ms . Rui z wa s unabl e t o perfor m th e necessar yarriva l chec k o n accoun to fhe r confrontatio n wit h Responden t (I.D. , p . 2) . W e liv e i n a safety-.an d security-attuned.environment . Against.th e backgroun d o fth e multipl e aircraf t hijacking s leadin g t o th e los s o fove r3,00 0 live s i n 2001 , tha t environmen t ma yno t b e mor e highl ysensitiv e tha n aboar d operatin g aircraft . I n suc h a n atmospher e i t i s imperativ e tha t airlin e passenger s full yrespec t th e crew' s authority . Nothin g les s ca n b e tolerated . Hillar d Abroms , 200 8 W L345387 , FA AOrde rNo . 2008- 2 (Januar y28 , 2008) , p . 6 ; se e als o Shelle yLouis e Conger , FA AOrde rNo . 2007- 8 (Augus t2 , 2007) . pp . 21-22 ; Tr . 19-20 .

" Tr . 18-19 . Suc h concern.' ; ar e not merel ytheoretical . Ver) ' recently , o n Octobe r2 . 20 1 I , nin e passenger s aboar d a JetBlu e tligh l fro m Sa n Juan . PR , t o Boston , M Acomplained o finjurie s t o thei rback s an d necks resultin g fro m turbulence . Accordin g t o th e Bosto n Glob e o fOctobe r3 , 20 1 I , th e Massachusett s Por t Authorit yan d Bosto n emergenc yservice s responde d t o th e flight' s touchdown . O n Augus t 3 , 2009 , a Continenta l Airline s Boein g 767-20 0 operatin g from Ri o d e Janeiro . Brazil , l o Houston . TX , hi l turbulenc e so severe that , accordin g t o on e passenger , "Peopl e that weren' t seat-belte d i n fle wu p an d hi t th e ceilings. " Seve n peopl e were hospitalized . SecHww.cnn.com .

### Mr . Cox ' behavior , i n it s characte ran d effect , merit s a significan tsanction .

Indeed , th e FA

Aha d caus e t o sugges t a highe rpenalty . I state d atth e hearing , an d reiterat e here , tha t I migh t wel l hav e assesse d a civi l penaltyi n a greate r amoun t ha d i t bee n pled. ^ I n conclusion , I fin d tha t a civi l penalt yo f$1,10 0 i s mor e tha n appropriate . I t i s warrante d byth e totalit yofth e circumstances . I t wil l promot e respect fo r prope rconduc t aboar d aircraf t an d fo rth e safet yan d securityresponsibilitie s associate d wit h ai rtransport . Th e penalty , substantialfo ra n individual , als o wil l act a s a deterren t t o Responden t an d t o othe rpassengers . I t wil l fulfil l th e statutorypurpose . O n th e basi s o fth e foregoing , I hereb yasses s a civi l penaltyof$1,10 0 agains t Responden t Rodd yL . Co xfo ra violatio n o f1 4 C.F.R . §121.380. "

Richar d C . Good^^i n U.S . AdministrativeTra wJudg e Attachmen t - Servic e Lis t

^ Tr . 50-51 . Acivi l penaltygreate rtha n tha t sough t b yth e agencymaynot b e assessed . §13.16(1) . ^ Thi s decisio n maybe appeale d t o th e Administrato ro fth e FAA . Th e notic e o fappea l must confor m t o section s 13.210 , I3.2ll(e)an d 13.23 3 o fth e Rule s o fPractice , whic h requir e tha t a notic e o fappea l 1 ) be file d no t late rtha n 1 0 days (plu s a n additiona l five day s i fmailed ) from th e servic e dat e o fthi s decision , an d 2 ) b e perfecte d wit h a writte n brie fo rmemorandu m not late rtha n 5 0 days {plu s a n additiona l five, \\ ' mailed ) fro m th e servic e dat e o fthi s decision . Th e notic e o fappea l an d brie fo rmemorandu m must eithe r b e a ) maile d t o th e Federa l Aviatio n Administration , 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W. , Washingtori . D C 20591 , Attn : Hearin g Docke t Clerk,AGC-430 , Wilbu rWrigh t Building—Suit e 2W1000 , o rb ) delivere d personall yo rvi a expedite d courie rsei"vice t o th e Federa l Aviatio n Administration . 60 0 Independenc e Avenue . S.W. , Wilbu rWrigh t Building—Suit e 2W1000 , Washington , D.C . 20591 , Attn : Hearin g Docke t Clerk , AGC-430. , Acop yo fihe.nofic e ofappea l an d briefe rmemorandu m als o must b e sen t t o agency counsel . Servic e upo n th e presidingjudg e i s optional .FA ADocke t No . CP10GL000 5 (Civi l Penalt y Action ) SERVIC ELIS T ORIGINA L& ON ECOP Y Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio n 80 0 Independenc eAvenue , S.W . Washington , D C 2059 1 Altention. " Hearin g Docke t Clerk , AGC-43 0 Wilbur^Wrigh t

Building—Suit e2W1000 '

ON ECOP Y Rodd y L . Cox , Responden t 3918S . Cla y Stree t Gree nBay , W I5430 1 Chri s G . Zurales , Complainant' s Counse l Senio r Attorne y Grea t Lake s Region , AGL-7 K Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio n 230 0 Eas t

Devo nAvenu e De s Plaines , I L60018-469 6 TEL : 847-294-771 3 FAX ; 847-294-749 8 Th eHonorabl eRichar dC . Goodwin , Administrativ eLa w Judg e Oftlc eo f Hearings , M-2 0 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S.H . Eas t Buildin g Groun dFloo r Roo mEl2-32 0 Washington , D C 2059 0 TEL : Attorney-Adviso r 202-366-213 9 Lega l Assistan t

202-366-512 1 FAX : 20 2 366-753 6

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y U.S . Mail . Fo

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us e(li efollowin g address : Federa

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0 IndependenceAvenue , S.W. , Wilbu r Wrigli lBuilding—Suit

e2W1000 , Washington, D C 20591 ; Anention : Hearin

g Docke t Clerk, AGC^30 .FA ADocke t No . CPJOGL000 5 (Civi l Penalt y Actioti ) SERVIC ELIS T ORIGINA L& ON ECOP Y Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio n 80 0 Independenc eAvenue , S.W . Washington , D C 2059 1 Attention : Hearin g Docke t Cierk , AGC-43 0 Wilbu r Wrigh t Building—Suit e2W1000 '

ON ECOP Y Rodd y L . Cox , Responden t 391 8 S.Cla y Stree t Gree nBay , W l 5430 1 Chri s G . Zurales , Complainant' s Counse l Senio r Attorne y Grea t Lake s Region , AGL-7 K Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio n 230 0 Eas t

Devo nAvenu e De s Plaines , I L60018-469 6 TEL : 847-294-771 3 FAX : 847-294-749 8 Th eHonorabl eRichar dC . Goodwin , Administrativ eLa w Judg e Offic eo f Hearings , M-2 0 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S.E . Roo mEl2-320 ' Vv'ashington , D C 2059 0 - • TEL : Attorney-Adviso r 202-366-213 9 Lega l Assistan t

202-366-512 1 FAX : 20 2 366-753 6

' Servicewa

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usethefollowin

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e2W1000 , Wasliington . D C 20591 ; Atlenlion : Hearin

g Docke t Clerk, AGC^30 .