Lawsuit Ex-TSA Worker Claims Airport Scanner Caused Tumor, Sues L3 aka Rapiscan [MIA]

Law 360: Ex-TSA Worker Claims Airport Scanner Caused Tumor (Aug 2 2013)

A former Transportation Security Administration worker sued L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems Inc. in Florida state court Tuesday, claiming that she developed a tumor from radiation exposure due to her regular operation of the company's whole-body scanner at Miami International Airport.​

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Plaintiff Tiffany Bethel brought claims of negligence, warranty and product liability for design defect and abnormally dangerous activity against the Woburn, Mass.-based company, which designed and manufactured the L-3 ProVision Whole Body Imager she operated.​

 

Nothing against the employer.

 

that should clue you in as to why.

 

To be honest I didn't know the TSA couldn't named in a state court.

 

since it involves a federal agent in the conduct of his work, it would be removed to a federal court, IIRC. Federal courts have a rep of being less friendly to these kinds of suits.

 

I guess the plaintiff's attorney thinks he (she?) has a way to get around the SAFETY Act, which provides for immunity to those manufacturers...

 

A civil suit against a federal agency would have no chance in federal courts. A criminal case against federal employees might be conducted under state law but would still be removed to the federal courts; unfortunately one of the best precedents (Idaho v. Horiuchi) in that area was vacated by a corrupt Idaho prosecutor and might have to be reestablished.