A Kansas woman has filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines and a fellow passenger following a violent altercation on a flight in June, alleging the airline's open-seating policy contributed to the attack. The incident, captured on video and widely shared online, shows Leanna Perry, 32, of Brooklyn, hurling insults and physically assaulting Livia Rombola before being restrained and removed by police.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in New York State Supreme Court, claims Perry was intoxicated and should never have been allowed to board the flight from LaGuardia Airport to Kansas City. Rombola's attorney, Joel J. Turney, told The Independent that the airline's 'free-for-all seating policy was a substantial factor in the cause of the incident.' The complaint argues that unassigned seating departs from industry standards and creates a foreseeable risk of passenger conflict.
Video of the incident shows Perry shouting slurs at Rombola, including 'I didn't want to sit next to a f***ing fat lady,' before pulling her hair and spitting in her face. The attack only ended when crew members and passengers zip-tied Perry's hands and police removed her on a gurney. Rombola says she has suffered physical injuries, emotional distress, and reputational harm from the viral footage and subsequent online commentary.
Southwest Airlines has announced it will phase out its open-seating policy in January 2026, citing customer preference for assigned seats. A spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit but previously stated that Perry was removed from the flight and denied boarding. Federal authorities have received 1,058 reports of unruly passengers on commercial flights so far in 2025.
