You're under ARREST!

SKY HIGH

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May 22, 2004
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Southwest prank turns out to be no joke

Throughout the airline industry, Southwest Airlines is known for being a fun and relaxed company to work for. "But the airline's jocular style may have gone too far,â€￾ according to The Washington Post (free registration). The paper makes that assessment after a federal appellate judge ruled last week that the city of Albuquerque and its police department can be sued for a practical joke that seems to have gone wrong at Albuquerque International Sunport. So, what prank could have gone so wrong? The 2002 incident began after customer service supervisors and co-workers staged a mock arrest of a customer service agent who was near the end of her “probationaryâ€￾ status after starting employment with the carrier. Meant as part of a well-intentioned prank, co-workers convinced three city police officers assigned to the airport to approach the employee -– identified as Marcie Fuerschbach -– as she was worked the ticket counter.

The officers told Fuerschbach the airline had turned up an outstanding warrant for her arrest during the background check, and they proceeded with the mock-arrest: confiscating her airport badge, employee badge and keys. Fuerschbach also claims she was “forciblyâ€￾ handcuffed. As officers pretended to take her away as part of the mock arrest, one of Fuerschbach's co-workers yelled out, "Congratulations for being off probation." Co-workers in the terminal then cheered for Fuerschbach as she had her lapel pinned with Southwest wings.

But in a lawsuit filed over the incident, Fuerschbach complains the prank left her “embarrassed and humiliated.â€￾ The complaint adds that Fuerschbach, now 48, continued to "cry uncontrollably" even after she was released from her mock arrest, and that she had to take ibuprofen and Tums to ease her discomfort. According to Andrews Publications, Fuerschbach claims to have seen a psychologist who diagnosed her with post-traumatic stress disorder following the incident."

It was meant as a celebration and we regret that the prank was interpreted as anything other than that," says Southwest spokesman Ed Stewart. He adds that Fuerschbach's co-workers were "completely shocked" by her reaction and says the airline was "just trying to make an employee feel welcomed." As for the court ruling, the judge further ruled that Southwest is not liable for damages but said that the plaintiff may be eligible for workers' compensation payments.
 
the judge further ruled that Southwest is not liable for damages but said that the plaintiff may be eligible for workers' compensation payments.
Uh oh...instead of the pain and sufferning payday, she might have to return to work. Oh the humanity.
 
Uh oh...instead of the pain and sufferning payday, she might have to return to work. Oh the humanity.

Yeah, that's real F'n funny. A crackup!! What's on tap for tomorrow? Telling an employee her kids were killed in a tragic accident? Think how relieved she'll be when we tell her it was a joke in a couple hours. So you saying she faked it when she cried uncontrollably for the rest of the day? Do you think she may have to deal with the embarrassment of her coworkers thinking she 'overreacted'? Do yo think she'll ever be trated like "one of the girls" at work? do yo think she realizes this? That this, oh so funny "prank", has done perm damage to her SWA career? Yeah, Ha f'n Ha. :rolleyes:
 
If she can't take a joke like that, what's she gonna do when something real happens at the ticket counter? Looks like a psychological nutcase to me. "They made fun of me! Waaaah,Waaaah!"
 
Yeah, that's real F'n funny. A crackup!! What's on tap for tomorrow? Telling an employee her kids were killed in a tragic accident? Think how relieved she'll be when we tell her it was a joke in a couple hours. So you saying she faked it when she cried uncontrollably for the rest of the day? Do you think she may have to deal with the embarrassment of her coworkers thinking she 'overreacted'? Do yo think she'll ever be trated like "one of the girls" at work? do yo think she realizes this? That this, oh so funny "prank", has done perm damage to her SWA career? Yeah, Ha f'n Ha. :rolleyes:
Sorry you're offended bussie. I did the same thing to a coworker several years ago when I worked in a bank. It was his birthday, I 'planted' some oregano in a baggie in his coat pocket, then we had an Irving cop come in and arrest him. While he was shocked at first, he got over it very quickly. He even laughed about it just minutes later.

Yep...I think this gal overreacted a bit.
 
sky high states: When was the last time YOU broke into "laughter" being FORCIBLY RESTRAINED IN HANDCUFFS BY POLICE IN PUBLIC? :down: :down:
As I said, it didn't bother my friend when we did it to him.
 
Seems kinda odd that you could convince three city cops to make a fake arrest at an airport in 2002 as part of a juvenile hazing incident.

She may be overly sensitive but the risk that she might overreact should properly be the problem of the police officers and the police department, IMO.

Does WN sometimes strip their new employees naked and abandon them in the middle of nowhere so they can find their own way home? How about excessive alcohol consumption? Are there paddles with greek symbols in the station managers' offices?

For christs'sake, she was a new employee at a business, not a fraternity pledge. You know, in the adult world. Like GrownUpVille. Sounds to me like several people took complete leave of their senses that day.

Maybe nobody should have to pay her a lottery-sized jackpot, but new employees should be warned of "pranks" like that ahead of time.

As to the appropriateness of the "practical joke" - would she have been disciplined by Southwest had she caused the same treatment to her station manager or her co-workers during her probationary period?

If yes (DUH! - it's obvious to me that she would have been discplined and probably not retained by WN had the roles been reversed), then it seems like a slam dunk that it was inappropriate to treat her that way.

Maybe next time, the WN A-Holes at ABQ can cause the police to arrest a male probationary employee on suspicion of child molestation and then yell "Surprise - we're just kidding!" as the cops lead him away in cuffs.

I luv WN as much as the next person, but this was over the top.
 
This "poor" employee is nothing but a "gold digger". Is she going to break into tears everytime an irrate passenger calls her names because they missed a flight? Seeing some of the crap that these ticket agents sometimes take from the public, you would think the ability to take a joke(even a bad one) would be one of the requirements of the job.
 
I have no facts of the case other than what has been reported in the news. Does anyone know why it took 4 years for the story to become public? :unsure:
 
you would think the ability to take a joke(even a bad one) would be one of the requirements of the job.

Occasionally, we'll have brand new rampers come to MX looking for Bin stretchers or the Keys to the aircraft. Needless to say we go along with it all in good fun.


This does sound like a joke wildly over suited for the mark. Jesus, just give the gal workers comp pat her on the head and send her on her way.

Hello Dewey, Chetum, and Howell .......Why yes you have a case......Who is Southwest Airlines? Ahh.....DEEP POCKETS! Let us send you to this specialty doctor we know.....Post tramatic Stress.....Lets sue for ONE BILLION DOLLARS! HA....HA....HA.....!
 
I hope she gets a bundle. This classless operation and its lack of professional standards is going to be the downfall of SWA. It may not be tommorow or next year but this cowboy attitude is going to be the thing that drives this band of idiots to the brink.

Perhaps they could have talked the ladies doctor into telling her she had cancer or some other deadly disease. What a knee slapper that would have been. You send new people for prop wash or some innocent type of activity but involving law enforcement is way out of bounds.

Again I hope she hits the jackpot with the crackpots
 

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