Health Boards
A woman has been awarded 2 Million Philippine Peso's for being turned away from her flight on Cebu Pacific (CebuPac) because she has psoriasis.
Quote:
In a 39-page decision, Pasay court Branch 114 Judge Edwin Ramizo said Rev. Magnolia Nova Mendoza was “put in a situation wherein she was being subjected to a rigid inspection through no fault of her, thus bringing so much embarrassment, humiliation and anxiety on her part…”
The court took this embarrassment to award her with P1 million. The judge also ordered CebuPac to pay P1 million in exemplary damages because it acted in “wanton, fraudulent, reckless, oppressive, or malevolent manner” when it breached its obligation with Mendoza.
Mendoza was also granted P100,000 in lawyer’s fees and P129,123 cost of suit.
Mendoza, a Psoriasis sufferer and a professor at the Siliman University Divinity School, was about to board a flight from Manila to Dumaguete on March 11, 2010 at 8:50 a.m. when the check-in personnel returned her ticket and asked about the rashes on her face. She was then asked to produce a medical certificate before she could be allowed to travel.
In the afternoon she was allowed to continue with her flight, but was asked to sign a Special Handling Form.
In awarding the money, the judge also noted that CebuPac has no rule about the presentation of medical certificate for Psoriasis sufferers on their own Basic Operations Manual (BOM).
Mendoza’s legal counsel Harry Roque described the decision as a proud moment the justice system.
CebuPac corporate communications manager Michelle Pestano-Fojas said the company has yet to receive the copy of the decision.
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