A federal judge today ordered American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to appear at an emergency hearing at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday after the two carriers and the government refused to grant a mask exemption to a 4-year-old Florida boy who suffers from Autism Spectrum Disorder and must fly Feb. 22 to Boston for important specialized medical treatment.
U.S. District Judge Patti Saris held an initial hearing on Feb. 11 regarding the lawsuit filed by Michael Seklecki Sr. on behalf of himself and his son, Michael Jr., demanding they both be granted mask exemptions and that CDC’s Federal Transportation Mask Mandate be struck down as illegal and unconstitutional.
Saris ordered lawyers for American and Southwest to resolve Michael Jr.’s exemption outside of court and report back by today. However, the two airlines still refuse to approve the boy’s medical waiver.
Saris then scheduled the emergency hearing Wednesday morning at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Boston. It will be held online. Media and observers may register with the court to attend.
The Sekleckis are booked to fly American Airlines from Florida to New England on Feb. 22, attend Michael Jr.’s appointment at Massachusetts General Hospital the morning of Feb. 23, and return that evening to their home in Sanford, Florida.
“It’s outrageous that I have to return to court for another hearing to ensure American, Southwest, and the federal government comply with the law clearly stating that disabled children are exempt from having to wear a mask aboard an airplane,” Michael Sr. said. “I hope Judge Saris will do the right thing and enjoin the airlines and CDC from mandating masks for little kids who can’t tolerate them. Forced masking has to end now.”
Michael Sr. filed the lawsuit on Jan. 28 and moved for injunctions against the government on Feb. 3 and the two airlines on Feb. 8.
He demands $400,000 in damages from American and Southwest for unlawful discrimination and an end to the FTMM and airlines’ mask policies. He seeks additional compensation from all American and Southwest workers who participated in the conspiracy to deprive disabled passengers of their civil rights.
“Media reports abound of disabled children being removed from planes because they can’t wear masks,” Michael Sr. said. “It’s hard enough for parents traveling with young children, especially kids such as my son who have special needs. The mask mandate – and airlines’ refusal to grant medical exemptions – has made it a complete nightmare. The court must stop this insanity.”
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It is criminal what these ‘elites’ are doing to the children.