Jun 15, 7:40 PM EDT

Calif. Man Wins Plane Toilet Ice Lawsuit

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) -- A Santa Cruz man won a suit against American Airlines alleging that one of the company's planes released two chunks of toilet waste, known euphemistically as "blue ice," onto the skylight his boat.

After the chunks came crashing down and damaged his boat, Ray Erickson tracked down the plane - American Airlines Flight 1950 - and sued in small claims court.

He receive'd the court's ruling in the mail Friday. A judge ordered the airline to pay him $3,236 - almost the entire amount Erickson had sought.

Mike Fergus, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, was surprised at the decision.

"I'll be darned," said Fergus, who hadn't heard of any similar suits succeeding before.

The airline has 30 days to appeal the ruling. Airline officials could not be reached to comment Saturday.


http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BLUE_ICE_SUIT?SITE=FLPAP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT