Janette Beckman v. American Airlines Group Inc.

I. BACKGROUND

On July 2, 2020, Plaintiffs commenced this action against Defendants in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. (Notice of Removal (“NoR”), Ex. B (“Complaint”) (Docket No. 1)). Defendants filed the NoR on August 27, 2020, seeking to establish diversity jurisdiction and alleging that McMahan was fraudulently joined in the action. (Id.). The Complaint alleges, in pertinent part: Plaintiffs are female flights attendants residing in California. (Id. ¶¶ 8, 21, 22). Plaintiffs were sexually harassed during their employment with American Airlines. (Id. ¶ 22). They each filed a formal complaint with American Airlines Human Resources Department against American Airlines pilot Sigsbee Nelson, detailing sexual harassment, assault, battery, and suspected drinking of alcohol on the job. (Id. ¶ 31). McMahan is a flight service director residing in California. (Id. ¶ 16). McMahan contributed to Plaintiffs’ harassment by initially offering Plaintiffs a “PW, Withheld from Service, Paid” (paid leave) until American and AAG completed their sexual harassment investigation, which he knew would last several months. (Id. ¶ 31) (emphasis added). However, acting outside the usual…