Federal judge dismisses lawsuit brought by former Alaska Sen. Reinbold against Alaska Airlines

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a former Alaska state senator who was banned by Alaska Airlines after disputes over masking during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

In a 37-page order published Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Joshua Kindred dismissed all claims brought by Lora Reinbold against Alaska Airlines and several of its employees. The airline had requested the dismissal.

Reinbold, speaking on Tuesday, noted that six of the causes were dismissed “without prejudice,” meaning that they can be refiled.

“Although I was hoping for better news in this challenging lawsuit as a self-represented litigant, the judge kept options open for me, to continue to seek justice,” Reinbold said by email.

Alaska Airlines declined comment.

Kindred, a Trump appointee, said that Reinbold — a non-attorney representing herself in the case — failed to properly state her claims, including alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Alaska’s constitutional right to privacy, and Reinbold’s rights under the U.S. Constitution.

Kindred said he “construes the pleadings of self-represented litigants generously and affords plaintiff the benefit of the doubt,” but went on to dismiss all 16 causes of action levied by Reinbold against Alaska Airlines, explaining that airline travel is not a “public accommodation” as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and that Alaska Airlines, as a private party, was not bound by the constitutional claims Reinbold made.

Reinbold, a Republican from Eagle River, had challenged Alaska Airlines’ decision to ban her from its flights due to what airline officials said was a pattern of noncompliance with federal masking requirements.

Reinbold was a noted critic of anti-COVID policies during the pandemic emergency.

Because the state Capitol lacks surface road access to the rest of the state, Reinbold was forced to drive across Canada and take a state ferry in order to travel between her district and the Capitol.

“It was life-threatening and impacted my decision to not seek re-election,” Reinbold said by email. “My husband and I drove in 40-below blizzard conditions, on slick roads for nearly three days, to catch the only ferry that month, to Juneau, from Haines Junction. After that trip, I realized how critical it was to try to help prevent corporate tyranny from impacting citizens, let alone legislators, ability to travel within our state.”

“To improve citizens’ access to government, and help prevent this type of corporate interference with travel, moving our legislative sessions onto the road system should be a top priority for Alaskans,” she said.

Before being removed as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee by colleagues disgruntled by her legislative tactics, Reinbold incensed Gov. Mike Dunleavy with her criticism and frequently disputed the federal mandatory-masking orders that were applied to airlines.

Although the lawsuit was formally about COVID-19 masking, Reinbold said she feels that the real story “is about someone who was wronged by a monopoly airline.”

“Unfortunately, there was no due process nor an ability to appeal the behind-closed-doors corporate decision to ban me. A lawsuit was the only viable option to seek justice,” she said.

Reinbold declined to run for reelection in 2022, and Alaska Airlines lifted its ban after the federal government stopped requiring airlines to mandate face masks that year.

Originally published by the Alaska Beacon, an independent, nonpartisan news organization that covers Alaska state government.