A flight attendant targeted by a former Korean Air vice president during a now infamous "nut rage" tantrum has filed a civil lawsuit against the jailed executive and the airline.
Kim Do-Hee's lawyers said the suit filed on Tuesday in New York sought compensation for the verbal and physical attack unleashed on their client by Cho Hyun-Ah -- also known as Heather Cho.
Cho, who is the daughter of Korean Air's chairman, was sentenced to one year in jail last month after being found guilty of safety breaches and assaulting cabin staff.
The main charge related to her decision to force a taxiing New York-Seoul Korean Air flight to return to its departure gate on December 5.
Cho had insisted on expelling the chief purser from the plane after taking exception to being served macadamia nuts in a bag, rather than a bowl.
The civil lawsuit alleges that Cho attacked, threatened and screamed obscenities at Kim, and then pressured her to cover up the incident by lying to government regulators.
RELATED STORIES:
KOREAN AIR CEO'S DAUGHTER APOLOGISES TO STEWARD OVER 'NUT RAGE'
KOREAN AIR HEIRESS JAILED IN 'NUT RAGE' CASE
"The evidence in this case will demonstrate that Heather Cho's actions were not only humiliating, degrading and damaging to Ms Kim, but were also emblematic of Ms Cho's unbridled arrogance and disturbing sense of entitlement," the law firms Weinstein Law Firm PLLC and Kobre & Kim LLP said in an emailed joint statement.
The statement said the incident had caused "extensive damage" to Kim's career, reputation, and emotional well-being.
Both Cho and Korean Air were named as defendants.
The airline declined to comment, saying it had received no communication from Kim's lawyers.
Cho's behaviour triggered a huge public backlash in South Korea, where it was seen as emblematic of a generation of spoilt and arrogant offspring of owners of the giant family-run conglomerates, or "chaebols", that dominate the national economy.
The case generated international headlines and became something of a national embarrassment, with South Korean media commentators suggesting Cho had shamed the country.
Cho, who resigned her executive post with Korean Air before her trial, has appealed against her conviction.
AFP
Wed Mar 11 2015
Cho, who is the daughter of Korean Air's chairman, was sentenced to one year in jail last month after being found guilty of safety breaches and assaulting cabin staff.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Isu akademik, Khairul Azhari mahu fokus pilihan raya
Calon PN bagi PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu, Khairul Azhari Saut enggan mengulas kontroversi melibatkan kelayakan akademiknya yang tular.
AWANI Ringkas: Pertembungan PKR, PN, PRM & Bebas
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Piala Asia B-23: Empat senario Indonesia buru tiket Olimpik Paris
Indonesia kini boleh bermimpi untuk beraksi di pentas Sukan Olimpik Paris tahun ini kerana mereka sekurang-kurangnya telah dijamin aksi playoff menentang Guinea.
KPJ Healthcare, Trustr bergabung untuk revolusi penjagaan kesihatan
Kolaborasi itu akan memfokuskan kepada memanfaatkan rangkaian kesihatan digital inovatif Trustr yang dipacu teknologi AI.
UMT bakal miliki rumah alumni bernilai RM2.2 juta
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) merancang memiliki rumah alumni sebagai pusat sehenti, bagi memperkukuh jaringan kerjasama dengan bekas pelajar, industri dan universiti.
Piala Thomas: Pengalaman Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik gagal ditandingi beregu Hong Kong
Hanya 26 minit sahaja diperlukan bekas juara dunia, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik untuk memastikan Malaysia meraih mata kedua dalam saingan Piala Thomas pagi tadi.
Piala Thomas: Lee Zii Jia beri mata pertama buat Malaysia!
Pemain perseorangan profesional negara, Lee Zii Jia berjaya meraih kemenangan ke atas Lee Cheuk Yiu 21-18, 21-18 dalam perlawanan Kumpulan D pagi tadi.
Filem Oppa beri kesedaran jenayah love scam
Filem kesedaran mengenai jenayah LOVE scam bertajuk 'Oppa' bakal menemui anda pada 9 May ini dengan membawa mesej tentang penipuan dalam talian yang seringkali menyasarkan golongan wanita.
[INFOGRAFIK] Calon Perpaduan | N.06 Kuala Kubu Baharu
Apa yang perlu anda tahu tentang calon Perpaduan bagi PRK N.06 Kuala Kubu Baharu.
[INFOGRAFIK] Calon Perikatan Nasional | N.06 Kuala Kubu Baharu
Apa yang perlu anda tahu tentang calon Perikatan Nasional bagi PRK N.06 Kuala Kubu Baharu.