A United Airlines captain who was arrested for indecent exposure, a charge which quickly went limp, has settled with the City of Denver for $300,000.
The incident occurred in September 2018. Recall that pilot Andrew Collins was at the Westin Denver Airport. Apparently, he was about to step into the shower but received a phone call and took it. While on the call, he walked around his hotel room naked while on the phone. A couple TSA agents noticed him from the hotel courtyard below and phoned the police, stating that he was waving to them and “touching himself”.
Police were called, stormed his room with guns drawn, and escorted him out in handcuffs. He was charged with indecent exposure.
> Read More: In Defense Of The “Naked” United Airlines Pilot
Long story short, Westin designed the windows so that guests could not see out of them, but onlookers outside could look in!
Even though the criminal charge against Collins was dismissed in March, he had already served a six-month suspension at United. And it is more than that. Even with the charges dismissed, his reputation remains tarnished. He told Devner CBS 4:
My family has had to deal with things they had nothing to do with. I have three boys who serve in the United States Air Force. They’ve had to listen to the jokes of their superiors about their father doing things in front of windows. My wife was a 30-year flight attendant for United Airlines and she has to go to work to listen to these same comments.
His attorney, Craig Silverman, who announced the $300,000 settlement with the City of Denver, added:
A respected family man and outstanding veteran aviator, Captain Collins was the victim of an unjustified and warrantless entry into his hotel room followed by an arrest and days of miserable incarceration. The criminal case against Captain Collins was properly dismissed, but not before Captain Collins was suspended for half a year from his job as a direct result of the wrongful charges against him.
CONCLUSION
As I said last year: I could be wrong. But in this case, I doubt it. In order to be found guilty, Collins must have “knowingly” exposed himself to others. That proved impossible to prove, even with the alleged waving (he was likely having an animated phone call).
It comes as no surprise that all charges were dismissed and the heavy-handed tactics of Denver police bring the settlement into the realm of reasonableness.
Is the settlement too much? Too little?
image: Westin Denver Airport
Wow
Westin designed the windows so that guests could not see out of them, but onlookers outside could look in! Talk about a flaccid window design…
Glad the captain prevailed. But, I am shocked about the window design. Seems like that should also be a huge story! Shouldn’t the glass design be the other way around – guests can see OUT but others cannot see IN????
Wow. What a boner!
I wouldn’t characterize a 300k settlement huge. Probably less than the cost of the defense. I would say that’s a win for the defense, considering the pilot probably got less than 200k after fees, costs, etc.
The penis references in this one don’t work.
I am curious as to what happened with the original complainant (s) , the TSA agent. We’re they reprimanded? Or offer apologies to the defendant. Just wondering that the whole thing was started off with their misconception.
@ Matthew — $300k is not what I would call huge. That’s probably about $130k after lawyers and taxes.
$300K may be pocket change to FCQ, but I think its a nice settlement if United now gives him backpay! 😉
I am more curious about the windows. When there I always stay in one of the outward facing rooms so I don’t quite get the courtyard facing configuration. How do you have a window that you can’t see out of but can see in? Makes no sense to me. Am I being dense?
Westin is the one that should have questions to answer. Did they install the windows on the wrong way? How is it possible that I cannot see anything outside when in the room but anyone can see me inside the room? Seriously???? This looks like the windows you see on movies in investigation rooms.
Although I feel for this falsely accused man (something that happens to a lot of men with regard to sexual things), this was not a design flaw in the windows. Any window will become a “one way” mirror of sorts if it is light on one side of the window and dark on the other side. In the case of this Westin, quite the opposite would be true if it was daytime outside and the lights were out inside — a person on the inside could easily see outside but a person outside would only see their own reflection.
If the $300k was *after* lawyer fees, I’d say it’s just barely appropriate. If not, then I think it’s not even close to being enough. IMHO, he also deserves payouts from the idiot witnesses (TSA officers?) who called the cops on him, in addition to the Westin. Who the F designs windows that allow you to see inside a room? 😮
Presumably, the Westin also bears even more responsibility for giving the cops his room number & info.
Completely agree…
United and Westin should also be sued.
There should be a conviction before getting suspended from United and I’ve never heard of a 6 months suspension, unless he’s in jail for 6 months.
Also Westin gave up info on a guest and had a flawed window design and didn’t inform guests about that. So yeah, $300,000 from United for jumping the gun and $300,000 from Westin would work too.
We could clearly see into the JFK TWA Hotel rooms when walking to The Connie for a drink last month. Wth??!
I don’t think It’s enough. Consider first how the police responded. Instead of knocking on the door and investigating they charge in guns drawn as if he was a terrorist bomb maker.
Again instead of investigating and doing their jobs they charge him and publicize the case.
Nope 300k isn’t remotely enough. I’d say United is going to be on the hook as well and if I were him I’d be suing the Westin to boot.
What an unbelievable story. Was his United suspension paid or unpaid? If unpaid, I would not call this settlement “huge” and instead would call it the exact opposite.
I always feel for people who are wrongly accused, and especially if they serve time and have their freedom taken away. How do you put a price on freedom? I feel that wrongly accused people are due major restitution.
I agree that the Westin should be sued and also pay up. If UA suspended without a conviction, restitution from them is also in order.
Really feel very sorry for him and his family.
Where are the two TSA schmucks?
I can’t ever recall staying in a hotel where you can’t see through the windows. Who would stay at such a hotel? That part can’t be correct or there is some nuance missing.
Should have gotten 300k for the embarrassment, plus all the wages he and his wife would accumulate to their retirement. This is after fees and taxes.
$10 million would be huge. The guy was arrested, humiliated, suspended for half a year wondering if his life was ruined, and made the butt of lots of jokes (see above for example) after the fact. If you find $300,000 to be huge for all that, I’m pretty surprised that Swiss hasn’t made you an offer that you find acceptable for your dispute with them.
He should have gotten a larger settlement.