Can you sue the man who shut down Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor?

PHOENIX (KSAZ) -- On Sunday, hundreds of flights were canceled after a car was left outside a loading zone near Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor Airport.

The entire terminal had to evacuate for four hours before passengers were allowed to go to their gate resulting in many of them missing flights.

The man who left the car was hit with just a parking ticket. Many people are saying that it doesn't justify the cost that he created with his error.

Some people even went as far to say that he should get jail time or even be sued.

Fox 10's Courtney Griffin spoke with a lawyer to get his thoughts.

"Think about it. He shut down a terminal for hours and was hit with what? A parking ticket for $52. Kind of shocking," said attorney Marc Lamber.

Lamber says what happened on Sunday was not ideal for hundreds of people as more than 200 flights wre canceled or delayed. But is it worth suing the man who left his rental car?

Lamber says no.

"They're not going to have the money to respond to those claims. So you can spend more money on lawyers in the legal process than you ever have of a hope of recovering," Lamber said.

The man left his rental car in a loading zone, creating a massive response from police, investigators and airport security. Which in turn, costs everyone money, including travelers.

Fox 10 got their take on if they would push to sue had they been impacted.

"I think I understand both sides, but if there is nothing that says if you park here and you leave your car, that this is what's going to happen to you, then I don't think they can do anything to them."

"I would definitely sue somebody for that."

"It's disrespectful for all the people who missed their flights."

"I would not try to sue him personally, but obviously it was wrong and probably should be more of a fine than $52."

Lamber says just because someone does something that isn't the smartest idea, doesn't always mean they're financially responsible.

One reason is because the man would have had to foresee all the damage he caused and that argument would be difficult to make.

"You can make an argument that it is foreseeable particular in the days in which we're living now, and the risks that we all know associated with airports. And I bet you can make an argument saying no that isn't foreseeable," Lamber said.

All in all, it was a day that set people back, but travelers Fox 10 spoke with understood that things happen.

"What can you do, right?"

Again, as it stands, he faced a $52 fine and a towing fee.

Attorny Marc Lamber, legal analyst at Fennemore Craig, P.C.
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