On January 28, 2025, Yisroel Liebb was traveling on United Airlines from Tulum, Mexico, to Houston. Liebb was
traveling with Jacob Sebbag, both men are Orthodox Jewish. During the two hour flight, Liebb spent 20 minutes in the restroom in the back of the plane.
A flight attendant woke Sebbag from a nap and asked Sebbag to check on him. Liebb said he stated he was constipated and assured Sebbag that he would be out soon. Sebbag relayed the information to the flight attendant.
About 10 minutes later, the pilot approached Sebbag and asked him to check on Liebb again. The pilot allegedly yelled at Liebb to leave the bathroom immediately. Liebb said he told the pilot that he was finishing up and would be out momentarily. According to the complaint, the pilot then broke the lock, forced the bathroom door open, and pulled Liebb out with his pants still around his ankles. Liebb’s genitalia were exposed to the rest of the plane.
Liebb and Sebbag state that the pilot then pushed them back to their seats while threatening to have them arrested. The pilot made comments about their faith and how “Jews act.”
After the plane landed in Houston, the men said about a half-dozen Customs and Border Protection officers boarded and escorted them off the plane. One of the Homeland officers alleged stated: “This isn’t county or state. We are Homeland. You have no rights here.”
United booked them on a flight to New York City the next day for free, but they had to pay for an overnight hotel stay and food during their delay.
Did Liebb Contribute to the Incident By Overstaying His Restroom Stay?
Different states follow different rules for distributing fault if both a plaintiff and a defendant could potentially be at fault for causing the plaintiff’s injuries. For instance, California follows a pure comparative fault rule. This means that a plaintiff can recover damages proportional to their assigned percentage of fault. If a plaintiff is awarded $100,000, but is found to be 80% at fault, then the award is reduced by 80%.
On the other hand, Texas follows a modified comparative negligence system. If a plaintiff is found to be at least 51% at fault, the plaintiff cannot recover anything. If the plaintiff’s fault is 50% or less, they can still recover their damages.
In this case, Liebb may have some fault for staying in a bathroom for an excessive amount of time. Liebb was allegedly in the restroom for twenty minutes on a two-hour flight. Airline staff had every right to be concerned that Liebb was in there for an excessive amount of time. If the plane was about to land, Liebb could be hurt. Everyone on the plane could also be concerned that Liebb was in the restroom for nefarious reasons, such as a terrorist attack.
However, taking an exceptional amount of time does not justify the violence alleged in the lawsuit without further justification. If the airline attendants or pilot smelled smoke or suspected foul play, they might be warranted in taking extreme measures. The pilot’s alleged statements about Liebb’s faith or appearance makes it appear that the reasons were personal rather than security based.
Currently though, the public is only getting Liebb’s version of events. United Airlines has not commented on the lawsuit yet and it may be that the pilot and flight attendant’s story are much different. Both parties deserve their day in court to give their side of the story.
Do I Need the Help of a Personal Injury Attorney?
If you have sustained a personal injury through the unlawful act of another, then you should contact a personal injury attorney. A skilled personal injury lawyer near you can review the facts of your case, go over your rights and options, and represent you at hearings and in court.