DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
The U.S. Justice Department is suing medical-emergency air
transportation company Air Methods Corp. (AIRM), claiming it
discriminated against an Alaskan Army National Guard pilot.
The department said Jonathon L. Goodwin of Wasilla, Alaska, has
been a member of the Guard for nearly 20 years, "with honorable
service as both a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot."
The complaint says he was a helicopter pilot for Air Methods
when he was called up for nine months of active duty, including
deployment to Iraq. The department claimed Air Methods refused to
accept Goodwin for a contract position at a privately held Alaskan
medevac company, LifeMed Alaska, after he returned from active
duty. The complaint alleges Air Methods refused his application
because of LifeMed's "bias against recently returned service
members as well as an unwillingness to accommodate Goodwin's
possible future military obligations."
The department is also suing LifeMed, claiming both willfully
violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights
Act of 1994. The act prohibits employers from discriminating
against service members and requires them to promptly reemploy
those who leave their civilian jobs once they return.
A message left at Air Methods wasn't immediately returned.
Shares closed Thursday down 3.7% at $66.19 and weren't active
after the news. The stock has nearly doubled in value in the last
year.
-By Joan E. Solsman, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2291;
joan.solsman@dowjones.com