‘Nut rage’ case continues in New York Queens court

November 27, 2015
Korean Air's ex-vice president Heather Cho (Korea Times file)

Korean Air’s ex-vice president Heather Cho (Korea Times file)

A New York Queens county court heard oral arguments Tuesday for the continuing case between former Korean Air Vice President Cho Hyun-ah and flight attendant Kim Do-hee regarding the “nut rage” incident last year.

In March, Kim filed a lawsuit against Cho for “extensive damage that she has caused to Ms. Kim’s career, reputation and emotional well-being.”

Though Cho’s attorneys have held that the case should be handled in Korea, as investigations were carried out there, Kim has insisted that the case be heard in New York, where she feels she will get a fairer trial.

It is not yet known when the court will make a decision on jurisdiction.

On Dec. 5 last year, Cho caused an uproar in South Korea when she ordered that a plane she was on go back to the gate of John F. Kennedy International Airport after being dissatisfied with the way she had been served macadamia nuts by Kim.

She was sentenced to a year in prison by Seoul High Court but was released in May, with a reduced sentence of 10 months in jail with a two-year suspension.