CHICAGO- A 20-year-old woman has filed a negligence lawsuit against Southwest Airlines (WN), alleging the carrier failed to protect her from an allegedly intoxicated passenger who sexually assaulted her during a flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Sacramento.
The civil complaint claims the airline allowed the passenger to board despite visible signs of intoxication and continued serving him alcohol during the journey. The incident allegedly occurred on Southwest Flight 3548 on August 9, 2024.
According to court filings, the lawsuit argues that the airline’s crew failed to intervene despite repeated alleged misconduct during the flight. Southwest has not yet filed a response to the complaint, and no trial date has been scheduled.
Southwest Airlines Woman Lawsuit
The plaintiff, identified only as a 20-year-old woman, was seated in the middle seat between a man identified in court documents as Jeff Lorenzo and one of his coworkers.
The lawsuit alleges Lorenzo had consumed several alcoholic drinks before boarding after drinking both before arriving at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and at an airport bar.
According to the complaint, Lorenzo displayed signs of intoxication while boarding, including repeatedly attempting to enter the aircraft with the wrong boarding group. Despite those alleged warning signs, Southwest allowed him to board and assigned him a seat beside the plaintiff.
The lawsuit further alleges that flight attendants served Lorenzo at least two additional alcoholic beverages after takeoff, leading to increased intoxication during the flight.
Court documents describe multiple incidents of alleged unwanted physical contact throughout the journey.
The complaint claims Lorenzo repeatedly touched the woman’s body without consent, lifted the shared armrest several times, invaded her personal space, and engaged in conduct that made her feel unsafe.
The plaintiff contends that the duration and frequency of the alleged behavior should have alerted the cabin crew, arguing they either knew or reasonably should have known that misconduct was occurring.
FAA Rules Cited
Seattle aviation attorney Mark Lindquist, who represents the plaintiff, said the lawsuit targets both the alleged offender and Southwest Airlines.
According to the complaint, Lorenzo has already pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of simple assault.
Court records state that he admitted he was intoxicated before boarding, consumed at least two more alcoholic beverages during the flight, and repeatedly extended his arm across the victim’s chest while pressing against her breasts over her clothing.
Lindquist argues that Federal Aviation Administration regulations prohibit airlines from allowing intoxicated passengers to board because they can present safety risks to everyone on the aircraft.
Negligence Claims Aboard Flight 3548
Beyond the events aboard Flight 3548, the lawsuit argues Southwest failed to adequately prepare employees to recognize and respond to in-flight sexual misconduct.
The complaint references previous federal initiatives, including the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, recommendations from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National In-Flight Sexual Misconduct Task Force, FBI warnings, and public reports documenting increasing incidents of sexual assault aboard commercial aircraft.
The plaintiff also alleges the airline failed to follow its own procedures regarding intoxicated passengers and alcohol service. According to the lawsuit, those failures created a foreseeable risk of harm.
As a common carrier, Southwest is alleged to owe passengers the highest duty of care.
The complaint argues that by allowing an allegedly intoxicated passenger to board, continuing to serve him alcohol, and failing to intervene during the alleged assault, the airline breached that legal obligation.
Southwest Airlines has not publicly responded to the allegations.
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