Family Says Southwest Employee Humiliated Them at PDX in $1.2 Million Discrimination Lawsuit

By Diane Megaw On Aug 18, 2026

PORTLAND, Ore. — A black family, the DeWeese family, traveling through Portland International Airport (PDX) in August 2025, is suing Southwest Airlines for $1.2 million, alleging that an employee, Melissa Stallcup, humiliated them and discriminated against them.

Tidings Insight

Federal law prohibits airlines from discriminating against passengers based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex or ancestry. DOT investigates complaints alleging discrimination by airline employees or contractors.

The family was traveling to New Orleans from PDX when the father checked in his firearm. He was later told to return to the ticket counter due to an issue with his gun. The rest of the family proceeded to the boarding gate.

Tidings Insight

TSA permits firearms in checked baggage only when unloaded, locked in a hard sided container and declared to the airline at check in. Airlines may impose additional requirements.

The lawsuit, filed August 11, alleges that, at the gate, Stallcup was yelling out their surname but said none of the family members could board as one of the sisters had a gun. The sister denied this and indicated that her father was at the ticket counter attending to the issue.

Stallcup then allegedly told the sisters their father was in police custody, which wasn’t true, and also falsely claimed one of the daughters had not paid the fee for her cat to travel on the plane. The family is seeking $1.2 million in damages.

Multnomah County Portland