Ex-NBAer Eric Murdock Sues United Airlines over 'Race-Baiting' Flight Attendant
Former NBA point guard Eric Murdock has filed a lawsuit against United Airlines over the actions of a flight attendant in July.
Kristen Griffith of USA Today reported details of the suit, which accuses a female flight attendant of "race-baiting" behavior.
Murdock, who is black, alleges the woman, who is white, would not allow him to switch to an empty seat to sit with his son. She initially told him he was attempting to move to premium seating but declined to tell him the price increase.
When another passenger offered to allow Murdock to switch seats, the flight attendant again declined the request.
A white woman later took the seat Murdock was refused, according to the lawsuit.
Murdock said the flight attendant later asked if he was "going to boycott" drinks when she came around to offer beverages to passengers.
Brenda Williams, a black woman who did not know Murdock, attempted to intervene on his behalf. The flight attendant allegedly began yelling at Williams and attempted to take her phone away after accusing her of recording the interaction. Williams is listed as a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit.
"At United, we proudly hold ourselves to the highest standards of professionalism and have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind," United said in a statement.
