Update:
- Boeing asked a federal court in Washington to dismiss allegations it is liable in a love triangle murder-suicide between Boeing employees.
- The company says the employees were not at work or on the clock when the murder occurred and the estate of former Boeing employee Isaiah Washington did not claim negligent retention of Ralph O’Connor, who shot and killed Washington and himself Nov. 21, 2022.
- Boeing also asked U.S. District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson to dismiss an additional accusation that the company discriminated against Washington due to his race, saying the claim is not plausible.
- “Plaintiff’s only allegation is that Boeing failed to stop Mr. Washington from engaging in a consensual sexual relationship with a coworker,” the motion to dismiss says.
Boeing employee murder lawsuit overview:
- Who: Boeing is facing a lawsuit alleging negligence after the murder of an employee.
- Why: Boeing is accused of not acting after threats were made over a love triangle involving three assembly line employees, including a supervisor, that ended in a murder-suicide.
- Where: The Boeing negligence lawsuit was removed from state court to federal court in Seattle, Washington.
(Jan. 23, 2024)
Boeing is facing a lawsuit claiming that it was negligent in a Boeing employee murder that allegedly came after threats and a love triangle between co-workers.
The estate of former Boeing employee Isaiah Washington filed the Boeing negligence lawsuit after Washington was shot and killed on the street heading to his shift on the Boeing assembly line by co-worker Ralph O’Connor, who then killed himself.
The Boeing lawsuit was removed from Superior Court in King County to federal court in Seattle, Washington, upon Boeing’s request.
O’Connor and then Washington were in sexual relationships with Boeing supervisor Rachel Pettit, which upset O’Connor and led to threats from O’Connor to Washington.
Boeing, including Manager Brandon Mitchell, was made aware of the threats but did not alter Washington or Pettit’s shift schedule, the lawsuit claims.
Employee had history of threatening behavior that led to prior suspended leave, lawsuit says
O’Connor had a history of threatening behavior and had previously been placed on suspended leave from Boeing for his actions, the lawsuit claims.
In early September 2021, O’Connor found Washington’s car at Pettit’s home and “became angry, banging on the door and causing a scene,” the Boeing lawsuit says.
Boeing is accused of failing to act after O’Connor’s threat that ultimately led to both of their deaths. The company is also accused of knowingly allowing a supervisor to engage in a sexual relationship with subordinates.
O’Connor’s wife said that he had been trying to get assistance with mental health issues from Boeing, but the company had not done anything.
In other news related to Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the company following the mid-air blowout of a blocked exit door on an Alaska Airlines flight on Jan. 5.
Have you ever been threatened at work? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Sumeer Singla of Wiliams Kastner and Gibbs PLLC and Lawand Anderson of L.A. Law and Associates PLLC. The defendant is represented by Laura C. Hill, Breanna C. Philips and Michelle L. Maley of Perkins Coie LLP.
The Boeing employee murder lawsuit is Washington v. The Boeing Company, Case No. 2:24-cv-00059, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
