A former employee is taking legal action against a major airline, alleging racial discrimination that led to his unjust termination. Deatrik Bledsoe filed a complaint on February 25, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Southwest Airlines Co., accusing them of violating his civil rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The case revolves around Bledsoe's claim that he was wrongfully terminated due to racial discrimination after an incident in October 2023. Bledsoe, an African American and a flight attendant with Southwest since February 2000, had maintained a commendable work record until this incident. On October 12, 2023, while off duty and traveling as a passenger from Chicago to Jackson, Mississippi for his university homecoming at Jackson State University, he was detained by Southwest employees who alleged he appeared intoxicated. Despite not consuming alcohol that day and being off duty, Bledsoe complied with a breathalyzer test. Following this incident, he voluntarily enrolled in an alcohol treatment program at Rosecrance in Rockford, Illinois, which he completed successfully by November 2023.
However, upon returning to work in January 2024, Bledsoe was informed of his termination despite having completed the treatment program. He highlights that Southwest had a "Return to Cabin Program" allowing employees who completed such programs to resume their careers. Despite this policy and successful completion of the program by other flight attendants who were allowed back into service, Bledsoe alleges he was denied re-entry solely because of his race. In July 2024, Tom Spillers from Southwest allegedly cited poor work history as the reason for not reinstating him—a claim Bledsoe argues is pretextual and racially motivated.
Bledsoe's lawsuit seeks several remedies: reinstatement to his position with all accrued benefits and seniority or alternatively front pay if reinstatement isn't possible; compensatory and punitive damages; attorney’s fees; costs; prejudgment interest; and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
The legal representation for Deatrik Bledsoe is provided by Joel F. Handler from Handler Law Group located at One E. Wacker Drive in Chicago. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:25-cv-01970.