some people are perfectly suited for a certain job, some of them gravitate to it, and some can't leave it at the office, on the clock. This FAA Inspector did, and it cost him. Now he's trying to flip it, and sue for 12 million (no idea how he came up with that number) for getting kicked off a flight while he was off the clock.

So, this officious nitpicker took a flight and the seat pocket that holds the safety bullshit was torn. So he took a photo of the storage pocket which he says “impaired” securing and accessing the safety briefing card, which is a violation of FAA rules.

(omg! a rule is broken! Oh no! it's the end of civilization! Waaaaa!  JFC)

The crew thought he was taking photos of them, and seems to have had enough of his crap, and decided to complain he was being combative, (and angling to move to a better seat for free) so the pilot turned the plane around, and kicked him off. 

United then allegedly imposed a lifetime travel ban, and filed a complaint with the FAA, and since he was under investigation, he was removed from safety oversight duties involving United. He alleges this was United’s objective. 

That would be really clever

He says that the enforcement case against him was dropped, because United’s witnesses were deemed unreliable, but that United refused to lift his ban.

So, he's come up with an amount that will make him wealthy, but United won't notice... they are probably going to pay their lawyers more regardless,

If United allegedly portrayed him to the FAA as disruptive, dishonest, greedy, or threatening (factual assertions) then there’s a claim for defamation and reputational harm especially with his role as a safety inspector.

https://viewfromthewing.com/faa-safety-inspector-sues-united-for-12-75-million-claims-he-was-banned-for-life-after-reporting-torn-seat-pocket/

I wonder if we'll learn the outcome