United sued for denying sick man's request to land plane

A passenger stricken with acute pancreatitis on a United Continental flight to Rome sued the airline over the crew’s refusal to land the plane so he could obtain treatment. Lewis Christman and his wife Roseanne filed a complaint against the airline alleging he suffered such severe pain and nausea during the May 2016 flight from Chicago that he was unable to sit up, and lay curled up on the galley floor in a fetal position. Upon landing, Christman was hospitalized, first in Rome and then in the US for months, and later required surgery, according to the complaint filed May 17 in Cook County, Illinois state court. "When there is an emergency situation with someone who was as sick as Mr. Christman was, United Airlines has an obligation to land the plane, and get him to the emergency room as quickly as possible," said David Axelrod, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. "We are aware of the suit and are looking into the matter," said a spokeswoman for United.<br/>