CHICAGO, IL – The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s decision rejecting claims from hundreds of Delta Air Lines employees who alleged that uniforms supplied by Lands’ End caused health problems and property damage.
Two groups of plaintiffs brought suit after wearing the new uniforms, with one group seeking damages for medical issues such as rashes, breathing problems, and fatigue, and another seeking compensation for property damage and breach of warranty.
The court held that the plaintiffs failed to prove the uniforms were defective or that the garments caused their alleged health problems. Expert witnesses offered by the plaintiffs were excluded due to unreliable data and flawed methodology, particularly their use of biased questionnaires and unsupported causation frameworks.
On the breach of warranty claim, the court ruled that employees did not follow the contractual return process for refunds. The court found that Lands’ End had honored its satisfaction guarantee for workers who properly returned the uniforms.
The ruling applies to claims brought under Wisconsin law for the injury claims and Delaware law for the contract dispute.
