HOUSTON, Texas – Christopher Bridgeman and his husband, Martin Borger, have sued United Airlines saying an employee intentionally maneuvered their duffle bag to expose a fecal covered sex toy. The purple sex toy was exposed as it traveled on an airport carousel in Virginia.
Continental Airlines later merged with United Airlines.
The jury trial is being conducted in Judge Kenneth Hoyt’s federal courtroom in Houston, Texas.
The judge dismissed the case in 2012 but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reinstated the case in 2013.
The Houston Chronicle reported the couple has sued the airline for invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
They were humiliated when the purple sex toy soiled with fecal matter could be seen at the baggage claim at the Norfolk International Airport.
The couple traveled to Costa Rica and were on a Continental flight back through Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport where they had to recheck their bags. They were traveling to their home in Norfolk, Virginia.
Testimony in the case includes an account from a witness that the couple was “happy” and “jovial” before Martin noticed the duffle bag. The witness testified “Martin came scurrying out” with “his head down.” The witness said Martin’s hands were around the bag and he was walking “like he was trying to get away from something.”
Bridgeman testified “I truly believed this happened because I am gay.” He said the toy was in-between neatly folded clothes. He said the fact that there was male clothing and toiletries in the bag notified an airline employee the duffel bag belonged to a gay male.
An airline employee who is now retired, said he took great care in his job and would never have purposely placed a bag in that condition on a baggage carousel.
The petition alleges the men have suffered anxiety and paranoia, sleeping problems, and have had weight fluctuation.
The lawyer for the airline, Edward “Teddy” Adams told jurors during opening statements that the evidence will show that the couple was not publicly humiliated. He said the men publicized the issue by creating a web site and conducting interviews.
The lawyer also told jurors the bag was overstuffed.
The trial is continuing this week in the Houston federal courtroom.
This article has been updated.
Lana Shadwick is a contributing writer and legal analyst for Breitbart Texas. Follow her on Twitter @LanaShadwick2
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