Allegedly fired for flying Life Flight 'too safe'
TOM MORTON Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Sunday, May 30, 2004 12:00 am
A pilot has sued CJ Systems Aviation Group, which leases the Life Flight aircraft to the Wyoming Medical Center, for firing him because it claimed he flew the aircraft "too safe," among other reasons, according to the complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court.
Douglas Wright of Casper filed the civil lawsuit against the company based in West Mifflin, Penn., because it terminated his employment without a valid reason on May 31, 2003, according to the complaint filed by his attorney Cameron Walker of Schwartz, Bon, Walker & Studer LLC.
Neither Wright, Walker nor a representative of CJ Systems Aviation Group could be reached for comment.
Wright began work in December 1999 with CJ Systems, formerly Corporate Jets Inc., which did not follow its own policy manual that outlines disciplinary actions to deal with violating specific rules, according to the complaint.
"Defendant CJ Systems' actions were undertaken deliberately, maliciously, unethically and in absolute bad faith, and in utter disregard of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing and in violation of CJ Systems' own policy guide," according to the complaint.
The company also violated public policies of Wyoming that assert citizens are to protect public welfare and safety, refrain from actions that hurt other citizens' liberty and property, and not urge people to engage in risky behavior that harms the public, according to the complaint.
CJ Systems, the complaint stated, violated those public policies when it discharged Wright "for flying his aircraft 'too safe'"; refusing to take unreasonable flight risks; and refusing to fly in weather that would have put himself, the crew, medical personnel and medically ill patients in jeopardy.
"Moreover, CJ Systems allowed personnel at the Wyoming Medical Center, none of which have any flight training or experience, to influence flight decisions and as a result, to influence and cause the termination of plaintiff," according to the complaint.
The company leases both airplanes and helicopters according to its Web site (www.cjsystemsaviation.com). The Wyoming Medical Center has both a helicopter and fixed-wing airplane for transporting patients. When the lawsuit uses the word "aircraft," it does not specify either a helicopter or an airplane.
The company prepared "a defamatory, false and misleading employee performance appraisal," placed it in his personnel file, and communicated it to Wright's prospective employers, according to the complaint.
These actions have improperly interfered with Wright's ability to get a job as a pilot, which has caused him economic and personal harm, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction by the court to block CJ Systems from communicating this false employment information to prospective employers, according to the complaint.
Besides the injunction, Wright wants the court to declare that the company's actions were unlawful and intentional, grant compensation for the damages the company caused him, and grant punitive damages against the company, according to the complaint.
The case has been assigned to Chief U.S. District Judge William Downes in Casper.