United Airlines v. Hughes

Hughes, a former United Airlines flight attendant, sued United in Illinois court, alleging that United fired her in retaliation for filing of a workers’ compensation claim. United removed the case to federal court, claiming that the Railway Labor Act divests state courts of jurisdiction over retaliatory-discharge claims against employers covered by the Act. The Seventh Circuit disagreed and ordered the case returned to state court. United then filed a petition for certiorari.

Representing Ms. Hughes in opposing the petition, Public Citizen’s brief argues that the Supreme Court should not review the Seventh Circuit’s decision because the decision was mandated by Supreme Court precedent and consistent with the decisions of other courts of appeals. The Court denied the petition.