United defeats lawsuit by passenger arrested at Heathrow

United Airlines Tuesday won the dismissal of a false imprisonment lawsuit by a frequent flier who was arrested at London Heathrow after missing her connecting flight and refusing to leave a United lounge. Sharon Cooper said she was handcuffed and held for 18 hours by London police Aug 25, 2014i. Cooper said she had been "hot" and "tired" and wanted to rest before rebooking her United flight to Newark, after her incoming flight from Nairobi had arrived late. But she said lounge staff insisted she get a new ticket first, and still demanded that she leave even after her son rebooked her flight. Heathrow security then contacted police. US District judge Valerie Caproni said United did not falsely arrest or imprison Cooper. The judge also said United was not negligent and had no duty to help Cooper rebook through the club lounge. <br/>