A legal dispute over a rejected advertisement at an upstate New York airport has concluded with a significant victory for the lawyer involved, resulting in a massive, prominently displayed billboard that now dominates two walls of the travel facility. The case centred on a small ad for a sexual harassment law firm that was initially turned down by airport authorities.
From Rejection to Resolution
Megan Thomas, a lawyer specialising in sexual harassment cases, signed a contract last summer to place an advertisement at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. Her proposed ad featured the slogan: “When HR called it harmless flirting … we called it exhibit A.” However, the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority, which operates the airport, requested she soften what they deemed “harsh” wording.
Instead of complying, Thomas filed a federal lawsuit in August. She argued that the airport’s rejection violated her First Amendment rights. The lawsuit detailed how the authority initially approved a draft version of the ad, only to reverse its decision the following day, citing concerns that the slogan was “considered to be a bit harsh.”
Airport’s Concerns and Legal Pushback
During subsequent discussions, Thomas claimed airport officials expressed worries that the ad might be viewed as “threatening” or “intimidating” to men. Furthermore, they cited potential negative feedback from community members and local politicians who might find it offensive. In court documents, lawyers for the SRAA defended their position, stating they had offered alternative slogans that conveyed a similar message in a “more professional and less misleading and disparaging manner.”
Judge Anthony Brindisi, however, dismissed these arguments in a preliminary decision in January, calling the authority’s claim “nonsense.” He compared Thomas’s slogan to a Chick-fil-A ad at the airport featuring a cow and the phrase “Chikin 4 Din Makez U Grin,” noting that if that ad suggested chickens always make people happy or that cows can speak, it was no more misleading than Thomas’s tagline.
Settlement and Expanded Advertisement
Shortly after the judge’s ruling, the two parties reached a confidential settlement. As part of the agreement, the ad was finally displayed—not only with the original wording intact but also on a much larger scale than originally intended. Two walls of the airport are now emblazoned with a big, pink advertisement featuring a huge photo of Thomas, as first reported by Syracuse.com.
Thomas explained her motivation, stating, “When the airport told me the First Amendment did not apply and that they could do what they liked, I realized I would need to bring a lawsuit. I understood that if I won this battle, it would protect not only my rights, but also the rights of other women who come after me.” She intentionally chose the airport for advertising because many of her clients have reported experiencing sexual harassment during work trips, and she wanted visibility in a prominent area.
Impact and Aftermath
Since the massive sign went up a few weeks ago, Thomas reports that calls to her Syracuse-based firm have been “way up.” She has already hired an additional attorney and plans to bring on another office staff member to handle the increased workload. In addition to the large billboard, she maintains another, smaller ad within the airport.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the SRAA described the judge’s decision as “unfortunate” but acknowledged that the settlement allows both parties to refocus on their core purposes while preserving the authority’s ability to manage airport operations. The case highlights ongoing debates about free speech, corporate censorship, and the representation of sensitive issues like sexual harassment in public spaces.
