The widow of an Air France passenger overbooked by the carrier has filed a Superior Court wrongful death, negligence and breach of contract lawsuit claiming the carriers overbooking policies led to the death of her husband.

On January 2, 2006 Carmelita Llorera, her husband and daughter were denied boarding from Paris to San Francisco despite the wife’s pleas that her husband’s dialysis appointment was scheduled for the following day in San Francisco.

Despite their timely initial check in, confirmed reservations, Air France would only re-book them the following day.

On the flight the husband reacted to toxins in his body due to lack of the needed dialysis and died in flight.

Travel industry attorney, Alexander Anolik said that the carrier gambles with passengers rights when they intentionally overbook and try and settle for the few hundred dollars mandatory penalty. In this case their financial gamble resulted in the passenger’s death and therefore Air France is responsible for all foreseeable damages.