Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse

Case: Rajcoomar v. Transportation Security Administration

2:03-cv-02294 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Filed Date: April 14, 2003

Closed Date: 2003

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On 04/14/2003, plaintiffs filed suit in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) under the Federal Torts Claim Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2671 and the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. Plaintiffs alleged that there was a disturbance on their flight during which TSA agents handcuffed them, and subsequently lead them off the plane and transported them to the Philadelphia Police Department station. They were detained for several hours and questioned.

In June 2003, the parties settled. The defendants were required to notify the presiding judge about their policies and training procedures, as well to offer a written apology and $50,000 to the plaintiffs.

Summary Authors

Elizabeth Homan (11/10/2013)

People

Judge(s)

Fullam, John Patrick (Pennsylvania)

Rueter, Thomas J. (Pennsylvania)

Attorneys(s) for Plaintiff

Green, James K. (Florida)

Kreimer, Seth (Pennsylvania)

Marshall, Randall C (Florida)

Shuford, Reginald (New York)

Attorneys(s) for Defendant

Bullock, Cedric D. (Pennsylvania)

Gibson, Virginia A. (District of Columbia)

Presser, Stefan (Pennsylvania)

Judge(s)

Fullam, John Patrick (Pennsylvania)

Rueter, Thomas J. (Pennsylvania)

Attorneys(s) for Plaintiff

Green, James K. (Florida)

Kreimer, Seth (Pennsylvania)

Marshall, Randall C (Florida)

Shuford, Reginald (New York)

Attorneys(s) for Defendant

Bullock, Cedric D. (Pennsylvania)

Gibson, Virginia A. (District of Columbia)

Presser, Stefan (Pennsylvania)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
	Docket Rajcoomar v. USA	Oct. 1, 2003	Docket
1	Complaint Rajcoomar v. USA	April 14, 2003	Complaint
14	Settlement Order Rajcoomar v. USA	June 30, 2003	Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated May 11, 2022, 8 p.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link
1	COMPLAINT against SHAWN MCCULLERS, SAM MUMMA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION ( Filing fee $ 150 receipt number 886516.), filed by BOB RAJCOOMAR, DOROTHY RAJCOOMAR.(tj, ) (Entered: 04/14/2003)	April 14, 2003
	Summons 5 Issued; 4 Mailed to counsel and 1 Forwarded to U.S. Attorney's Office 4/14/03 as to SHAWN MCCULLERS, SAM MUMMA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. (tj, ) (Entered: 04/14/2003)	April 14, 2003
3	PETITION by BOB RAJCOOMAR, DOROTHY RAJCOOMAR for Pro Hac Vice Admission of JAMES K. GREEN and REGINALD T. SHUFORD, Certificate of Service. (rv, ) (Entered: 04/15/2003)	April 14, 2003
2	Acceptance of Service by U.S. Attorney Re: accepted summons and complaint for SHAWN MCCULLERS on 4/15/2003, answer due 6/16/2003; SAM MUMMA on 4/15/2003, answer due 6/16/2003; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION on 4/15/2003, answer due 6/16/2003. (rv, ) (Entered: 04/15/2003)	April 15, 2003
4	ORDER THAT THE PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION OF JAMES K. GREEN AND REGINALD T. SHUFORD OS HEREBY GRANTED. SIGNED BY JUDGE JOHN P. FULLAM ON 4/17/03. 4/17/03 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED.(rv, ) (Entered: 04/17/2003)	April 17, 2003
5	MOTION BY BOB RAJCOOMAR, DOROTHY RAJCOOMAR FOR LEAVE TO FILE THIRD PARTY SUBPOENA ON EXPEDITED BASIS, CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE.(rv, ) Additional attachment(s) added on 5/6/2003 (ldb, ). (Entered: 05/05/2003)	May 5, 2003
6	AFFIDAVIT of Service by Louisa Strouse Boiman re: Service of summons and complaint upon W.D. Vedder for Attorney General JOhn Ashcroft by certified mail on 4/28/03. (rv, ) (Entered: 05/06/2003)	May 5, 2003
8	AFFIDAVIT of Service by Louisa Strouse Brown re: service of summons and complaint upon S. Kungaba for Transportation Security Administration on 4/28/03 by certified mail. (rv, ) (Entered: 05/28/2003)	May 27, 2003
9	Response filed by BOB RAJCOOMAR, DOROTHY RAJCOOMAR to DEFENDANT'S Opposition to PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE THIRD PARTY SUBPOENA ON EXPEDITED BASIS, Certificate of Service. (rv, ) Additional attachment(s) added on 5/29/2003 (cl, ). Additional attachment(s) added on 5/29/2003 (cl, ). (Entered: 05/28/2003)	May 27, 2003
10	SUMMONS Returned Executed by Michael H. Doyle re: served Summons and Complaint upon James McCullers for SHAWN MCCULLERS by personal service. SHAWN MCCULLERS served on 5/24/2003, answer due 6/13/2003. (rv, ) (Entered: 05/28/2003)	May 28, 2003
11	ORDER THAT PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE A THIRD PARTY SUBPOENA ON EXPEDITED BASIS ON DELTA AIRLINES SEEKING THE INFORMATION SET FORTH FURTHER IN THIS ORDER. SIGNED BY JUDGE JOHN P. FULLAM ON 6/2/03.6/3/03 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED AND HANDED TO COUNSEL ON 6/2/03. (rv, ) (Entered: 06/03/2003)	June 2, 2003
12	MOTION BY BOB RAJCOOMAR, DOROTHY RAJCOOMAR TO COMPEL DELTA'S PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS RESPONSIVE TO PLAINTIFF'S RULE 45 SUBPOENA, CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE.(rv, ) Additional attachment(s) added on 6/18/2003 (ldb, ). (Entered: 06/18/2003)	June 17, 2003
13	ORDER THAT THE COURT NOW HEREBY ORDERS DELTA TO SUPPLY THE INFORMATION SET FORTH IN NUMBERED PARAGRAPH 1 AND 2 IN THE COURT'S ORDER DATED 6/2/03, ETC. THE COURT WILL HOLD A HEARING ON 7/3/03 AT 10:00, IF THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN SUPPLIED BY THAT TIME. SIGNED BY JUDGE JOHN P. FULLAM ON 6/18/03. 6/19/03 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED AND FAXED BY CHAMBERS ON 6/18/03.(rv, ) (Entered: 06/19/2003)	June 18, 2003
14	SETTLEMENT ORDER THAT THE PARTIES HAVE AGREES TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS OF SETTLEMENT AS OUTLINED FURTHER IN THIS ORDER, ETC. SIGNED BY JUDGE THOMAS J. RUETER ON 6/30/03. 7/1/03 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED AND FAXED.(rv, ) (Entered: 07/01/2003)	June 30, 2003
15	ORDER THAT THE COURT IS SATISFIED THAT THIS WRITTEN REPORT MEETS THE REQUIREMENT OF PARAGRAPH 1 OF THE SETTLEMENT ORDER IN THAT TSA HAS REPRESENTED THAT THE REPORT "SET[S] FORTH ALL OF THE CHANGES IN THEIR [TSA'S] POLICIES AND TRAINING PROCEDURES REGARDING THE ALLEGATIONS IN THE COMPLAINT". AS THE REPORT CONTAINS SECURITY SENSITIVE INFORMATION(SSI), AFTER THE CASE IS DISMISSED, THE REPORT SHALL BE RETURNED TO THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. SIGNED BY JUDGE JOHN P. FULLAM ON 7/29/03. 7/29/03 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED AND HAND DELIVERED BY CHAMBERS ON 7/29/03.(rv, ) (Entered: 07/29/2003)	July 29, 2003
16	ORDER DISMISSING ACTION WITH PREJUDICE PURSUANT TO LOCAL RULE 41.1(b), ETC. SIGNED BY JUDGE JOHN P. FULLAM ON 10/1/03. 10/2/03 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED AND FAXED BY CHAMBERS ON 10/1/03.(rv, ) (Entered: 10/02/2003)	Oct. 1, 2003

State / Territory: Pennsylvania

Case Type(s):

National Security

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 14, 2003

Closing Date: 2003

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiffs are U.S. citizens who were arrested and detained by the Transportation Security Administration upon a flight.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

ACLU National (all projects)

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

United States of America, Federal

Department of Homeland Security , Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 28 U.S.C. § 2674

Constitutional Clause(s):

Equal Protection

Unreasonable search and seizure

Availably Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Monetary Relief

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Amount Defendant Pays: $50,000

Order Duration: 2003 - 2003

Content of Injunction:

Issues

General:

Assault/abuse by staff

Excessive force

Over/Unlawful Detention

Restraints : physical

Terrorism/Post 9-11 issues