Court Opinion

ID: 9474253
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 04:51:55.858036+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:43:59.032242
License: Public Domain

CUDAHY, Circuit Judge,
dissenting:
I cannot agree that “the evidence, when viewed in its aspect most favorable to [Crossman], so overwhelmingly favors [TWA] that no ... verdict [for Crossman] ... could ever stand.” Szarat v. City of Chicago, 117 Ill.App.3d 809, 813, 73 Ill.Dec. 324, 327, 454 N.E.2d 68, 71 (1983). The majority contends that, given fraudulent misrepresentations by TWA, there was no detrimental reliance by Crossman. Seemingly, the majority’s logic is that Cross-man’s incarceration resulted from his own conduct, not from any reliance on TWA’s promises, and that TWA could not have shortened or ameliorated his imprisonment. This analysis, of course, does not address the possibility that Crossman would not have gone to Saudi Arabia at all had not TWA promised to “always be there should [employees] ever need any assistance.”
In addition, while TWA may not have been able to shorten Crossman’s ordeal or make him more comfortable, had it tried, it did not try. Under these circumstances, I think the jury might have been permitted to infer that TWA’s inaction contributed to Crossman’s injury. TWA, for example, might have pressured Saudia to drop any charges.
The majority seems to suggest that the plaintiff’s problems were caused, not by TWA’s nonfeasance, but by his own misbehavior. But Crossman has not admitted any wrong nor has he been convicted of any offense by an American or by a Saudi court. Hence, the majority’s apparent assumption of misbehavior is unwarranted. There is no basis for setting aside the jury verdict. Hence, I respectfully dissent.