As we have noted here many times. And here we learn that this could affect other cases as well, not just ones involving suspicious activity on airplanes. By Audrey Hudson in the Washington Times, with thanks to all who sent this in:
Six imams who are suing an airline and an airport for removing them from a flight also have aimed the lawsuit at passengers who the imams believe reported some of their activities.
The suit filed this week in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis names as defendants “John Does” who “contacted US Airways to report the alleged suspicious behavior” of the imams before the Nov. 20 flight — an inclusion some lawyers, who are not connected to the litigation, say will have a “chilling effect” on airline security.
“If such a suit could proceed, it would have a chilling effect on the willingness of people to provide information that authorities need to act when people are engaged in wrongdoing,” said Mark Behrens, a liability defense lawyer with the Washington firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon.
“If reporting suspicious behavior becomes actionable, that could have a dangerous precedent for reporting other crimes, like child abuse and abductions,” Mr. Behrens said. “It’s certainly a form of intimidation to go after passengers.”
Ah, but intimidation is their strong suit.