The Michael J. French v. American Airlines case in 2009 was a dispute over an airline passenger's request for accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Michael J. French, a passenger with a disability, requested that American Airlines provide him with a designated seat for his service animal, a Golden Retriever, on a flight from Utah to Pennsylvania. American Airlines denied the request, citing safety concerns and stating that the animal would have to be placed in a kennel during the flight.
The case was heard in the US District Court for the Central Division of Utah. The court ruled in favor of American Airlines, stating that the airline had not violated the ADA by requiring the passenger's service animal to be in a kennel during the flight. The court noted that the airline had provided alternative accommodations for the passenger, including an earlier flight that would allow the passenger to have his service animal with him outside of a kennel. The court also stated that the airline's safety concerns were legitimate and that the airline had the right to establish policies to ensure the safety of its passengers.
Overall, the decision in the Michael J. French v. American Airlines case was in favor of American Airlines, stating that the airline had not violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by requiring the passenger's service animal to be in a kennel during the flight.