WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of a law that Congressman John L. Mica (FL-07) created to provide immunity from civil liability to airlines and their employees when they report instances of potential security threats in good faith.
U.S. Rep. Mica, former House Transportation Committee and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman called todays U.S. Supreme Court decision, “A significant victory to protect those who act to protect us against potential threats of violence or possible terrorist acts.”
The Court’s unanimous decision sustains the Aviation Security law enacted after 9/11 which allows airlines and others to report in good faith instances of potential security threats without incurring liability. The removal of these protections would have had a devastating effect on employee willingness to report incidents and would detrimentally affect the security of nation’s aviation system.
In the case before the Supreme Court, William L. Hoeper vs. Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation, the plaintiff, a pilot, sued the airline after it reported him as a potential security risk after allegedly exhibiting certain behaviors. On September 4th, Congressman Mica provided the Court with a Brief of Amicus Curiae in support of the law’s provisions.
