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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/sep/21/judiciary-watchdog-investigates-judge-ba-luggage-complaint
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| Judiciary watchdog investigates judge over BA luggage complaint | Judiciary watchdog investigates judge over BA luggage complaint |
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| A judiciary watchdog is investigating a high court judge who complained about his luggage going astray on a flight booked with British Airways while he was overseeing a case involving the airline. | A judiciary watchdog is investigating a high court judge who complained about his luggage going astray on a flight booked with British Airways while he was overseeing a case involving the airline. |
| Mr Justice Peter Smith mentioned the problem in a written ruling on a case involving allegations of air cargo charges being fixed. He said in the ruling that he had decided to pass the case, which has yet to reach its final stages, to another judge. | Mr Justice Peter Smith mentioned the problem in a written ruling on a case involving allegations of air cargo charges being fixed. He said in the ruling that he had decided to pass the case, which has yet to reach its final stages, to another judge. |
| A spokesman for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office, which monitors judges’ behaviour, says Smith’s conduct in connection with the case is being investigated. | A spokesman for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office, which monitors judges’ behaviour, says Smith’s conduct in connection with the case is being investigated. |
| The judge said in the ruling he had booked return tickets to Florence for him and his wife with BA but that the flight had been provided by Vueling. He said the flight in early July had arrived at Gatwick and passengers had been told that all their luggage had been left behind in Italy without explanation. | |
| Smith said his and his wife’s luggage had arrived “without warning” some days later. He said he did not know how a plane “departs with all of the passengers’ luggage left behind” unless it was a “deliberate decision”. | Smith said his and his wife’s luggage had arrived “without warning” some days later. He said he did not know how a plane “departs with all of the passengers’ luggage left behind” unless it was a “deliberate decision”. |
| The judge said he had seen the distress other passengers suffered. He said he had contacted British Airways’ customer relations department – then emailed the chief executive after being “rebuffed”. | |
| Smith said he had made BA aware that he had a personal problem and was overseeing litigation involving the airline. The judge said he had also raised the luggage issue with lawyers representing BA in the case. | Smith said he had made BA aware that he had a personal problem and was overseeing litigation involving the airline. The judge said he had also raised the luggage issue with lawyers representing BA in the case. |
| He said the legal team had “deliberately refused to inquire” into the luggage problem. | |
| Smith said in the ruling, published in late July, that 12 days after the flight he still had no explanation for the lost luggage. | Smith said in the ruling, published in late July, that 12 days after the flight he still had no explanation for the lost luggage. |
| “The situation is that I do not know how a plane departs with all of the passengers’ luggage left behind, unless that is a deliberate decision,” he said in the ruling. “British Airways must know what the position is. I am promised some form of answer.” | “The situation is that I do not know how a plane departs with all of the passengers’ luggage left behind, unless that is a deliberate decision,” he said in the ruling. “British Airways must know what the position is. I am promised some form of answer.” |
| He added: “If those simple questions cannot be answered in 12 days with expedition, I really feel for other people who have the misfortune to fly with British Airways.” | He added: “If those simple questions cannot be answered in 12 days with expedition, I really feel for other people who have the misfortune to fly with British Airways.” |
| Smith said he believed that passengers’ luggage had been “deliberately bumped off for a more profitable cargo”. | Smith said he believed that passengers’ luggage had been “deliberately bumped off for a more profitable cargo”. |
| The judge said he would no longer oversee the case because he thought the luggage issue would be a distraction that could hamper the progress of the litigation. | |
| His “investigation” into the luggage issue would carry on “in a private capacity”, he said, adding that he would pursue that investigation “with the vigour for which I am known”. | His “investigation” into the luggage issue would carry on “in a private capacity”, he said, adding that he would pursue that investigation “with the vigour for which I am known”. |