Bollywood Fever: A California woman has filed a lawsuit against JetBlue, claiming that an incident with the airline caused her so much stress that her cancer returned soon after. Oksana Kiritchenko, 51, alleges that she was denied the ability to fly with her emotional support French bulldog in first class, leading to severe emotional distress and a recurrence of her cancer.
Kiritchenko, who had been in remission from Stage 4 cancer, filed the federal lawsuit along with her 71-year-old husband, Peter. The couple claims they were subjected to “an unexplainable level of cruel humiliation and ridicule” while trying to return home from Florida last September. They had paid $4,295.60 for two round-trip first-class tickets and submitted the required forms for traveling with a service animal.
The journey to Florida from Los Angeles went smoothly, with their dog, Pier, seated in a travel bag at their feet in first class. However, upon preparing to board the return flight, an airline agent questioned whether Pier was allowed to fly with them. Despite informing the employee about Peter’s severe disability and their health issues, the couple was reportedly kept standing for a long time.
The employee eventually told the couple that one of them would have to give up their first-class seat to accommodate the dog. Due to their pressing need to return to Los Angeles for Kiritchenko’s medical checkups, they agreed. Peter was seated in first class while Oksana and Pier were moved to economy.
As the plane was preparing for takeoff, a flight attendant allegedly handed Kiritchenko a bag that was too small for Pier, resulting in the plane returning to the airport and the couple being removed from the flight. They were forced to wait for another flight the next day, buying new tickets on Delta Airlines and booking a hotel room.
The lawsuit claims JetBlue caused the couple “unnecessary monetary damages” and accuses the company of negligence and violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The stress from the incident reportedly led to a rise in Kiritchenko’s mean tumor molecules levels, indicating a return of her cancer.
The couple is seeking reimbursement for hospital and medical expenses, attorneys’ fees, and monetary damages to be determined by a jury. JetBlue has yet to comment on the lawsuit and has 21 days to formally respond to the claims.
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