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Milwaukee man sues United Airlines for bullying over his last name

Posted at 8:35 PM, Aug 29, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-30 01:22:33-04
A Milwaukee man is suing United Airlines claiming an agent bullied and sexually harassed him because his last name is Dicks.
 
In the federal lawsuit, William Dicks said he was just trying to confirm some things for an upcoming flight. According to court records, Dicks said the harassment happened after the reservation agent asked him his name.
 
According to those records, the agent said, "His last name was 'controversial' but he liked it."
 
The phone call went on for 45 minutes. During the call he said the agent asked what the two of them would do "if they were alone together," and if he used "protection" when he was intimate with his then girlfriend.
 
Dicks said the events, "reminded of trauma he suffered as a child when he was teased because of his last name."
 
According to Dicks, after the phone call he reached out to United Airlines multiple times, including contacting the company CEO, but never got anywhere. He said after the incident he's had sleepless nights and he and his girlfriend broke up.
 
TODAY'S TMJ4 reached out to United Airlines for a response. A company spokesperson gave us this statement: "United has zero tolerance for harassment of any kind and we are reviewing this suit."  
 
Dicks is suing for punitive damages and lawyer fees. TODAY'S TMJ4  reached out to him via his attorney and never heard back.