United Airlines has agreed to settle a revenge porn lawsuit for $321,000 brought by a flight attendant.
The suit, which was first filed in August 2018, was backed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and alleged a pilot posted explicit photos of the flight attendant online without her consent.
The two employees were in a relationship but ‘Jane Doe’ broke it off after discovering compromising images online.
It alleged Captain Mark Uhlenbrock, now retired, refused to remove the images and continued to post them on multiple websites, where they were seen by at least two of Jane Doe’s work colleagues.
It claims Uhlenbrock posted photos of her in work uniform and shared details online about her work at United.
Uhlenbrock was eventually arrested by the FBI and sentenced to three years for stalking.
However United allowed him to retire on full benefits shortly after his conviction.
The flight attendant had raised the issue with United’s management but no action was taken.
Uhlenbrock faced no disciplinary action even after a second flight attendant made a complaint against him several years later, the lawsuit stated.
"Employers must not ignore harassment complaints simply because the harasser holds a position of authority," said EEOC supervisory trial attorney Eduardo Juarez.
As part of the settlement United agreed to amend its sexual harassment policy to include cyberstalking and harassment made through the internet or social media when on or off duty.
