American Flight Attendant’s Felony Drug Plea Dooms Job Bias Suit

An American Airlines Inc. employee failed with her race, sex, national origin, and disability discrimination lawsuit because she became unqualified for her job when she entered a drug diversion program and pleaded guilty to felony possession.

The US District Court for the Northern District of Texas rejected the former flight attendant’s contention that the legal outcome of her drug arrest didn’t bar her from receiving security clearance because it didn’t count as a “conviction” under Transportation Safety Administration rules. TSA regulations don’t define conviction, but under federal law the term includes guilty pleas, the court said, citing Fifth Circuit case ...