Airlines are no strangers to the bankruptcy courtroom.  American Airlines is the third largest carrier in the United States.  The top two carriers, United and Delta, each previously sought bankruptcy relief by filing Chapter 11.  Bankruptcy can allow a company to reorganize its operations by restructuring debts and renegotiating or eliminating certain obligations.  One way to accomplish this goal is simply by downsizing its work force.  The company often remains in business during the pendency of the case with the goal of emerging from bankruptcy in a better financial position.

So, what does this restructuring mean to the average airline traveler?  It is too early to know for sure what American will do in its bankruptcy case.  Most likely, the airline will attempt to streamline its operations, restructure debts, and rework labor agreements, allowing it to be more competitive with its peers and more attractive for a potential merger.

If you have bought a ticket and are planning to fly on American Airlines in the coming year, there is little reason to worry.  The airline’s operations will be business as usual, at least in the short term.  There will be little perceptible change for now, as American has vowed to honor all reservations and even continue its frequent flyer program.  However, plans (in both travel and bankruptcy) are subject to change, and the prudent traveler should keep an eye on the process by visiting AA.com/restructuring.

The bankruptcy case is In re AMR Corp., Case No. 11-15463, filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

The firm was founded in 1971. Its Wichita-based headquarters are in the iconic Epic Center on North Main. It also maintains an office in Topeka, Kan. Klenda Austerman’s wide-ranging areas of practice include aircraft finance, antitrust, bankruptcy, business, criminal law, family law, elder law, employment, environmental, estate, finance, franchise, health care, immigration/naturalization, insurance defense, international, litigation, litigation risk management, medical malpractice defense, mergers and acquisitions, non-compete, personal injury, probate, product liability, real estate, securities, tax, technology, and trusts and wills.

The recent debate over the sexual harassment allegations against Herman Cain has focused on potential political implications and whether Mr. Cain’s campaign can handle and survive these issues.  The media has largely ignored what role, if any, Mr. Cain’s former employer may have played in investigating and dealing with its employees’ complaints.  An employer that fails to investigate and respond to an employee’s complaint of inappropriate conduct by a co-worker or superior is simply inviting litigation.  Employers should have established procedures for dealing with these complaints that includes the following considerations.

• Never ignore the complaint. Treat it seriously.
• Immediately document the complaint and every action you take to investigate and address the issue.
• Let all parties involved know that you take such complaints seriously, and improper conduct will not be tolerated.
• Insure that your investigation is full, impartial and objective.
• Determine whether other employees may have been subject to past harassment and investigate appropriately.
• Take no action which appears to single out or isolate the complaining employee.
• Make sure that those responsible for such investigations are properly trained and educated.

If employees are assured employers will fairly and objectively address complaints of a hostile work environment, they are less likely to take legal action. If employees know their organization will vigilantly address such issues, they are less likely to engage in a bad behavior. In the end, by being proactive, employers can rest assured no one will be “raising Cain” with their organization.

 The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to ending the devastating effects of MS. Your participation will support programs, services, and research sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society that makes a huge difference to the people who must fight MS every day of their lives.

Dress for Success (DFS) is a non-profit organization whose primary mission is to provide disadvantaged women re-entering the workforce with interview and office appropriate clothing.  A DFS client receives at least one interview appropriate business suit allowing her to participate in her job search feeling confident and reassured.  Dress for Success Wichita (DFSW), an affiliate of the national DFS organization, goes above and beyond just providing a suit for its clientele.  DFSW’s primary goal is to make every woman feel special.  Personal Shoppers, trained to assure that every woman who visits Dress for Success Wichita has a positive experience, assist customers in not only picking out a suit but also several additional pieces of interview appropriate clothing.  Clients are also set up with accessories like shoes, handbags, scarves, jewelry and even makeup.  Additionally, DFSW provides organized support groups that feature speakers who assist women with the everyday demands of managing a new job and family life. 

 On June 17, 2011, KMAZ sponsored a Clothing Drive for Dress for Success.  KMAZ employees brought in lightly used business attire, including women’s suits, shoes, and purses. All donations were taken to DFSW.

Wichita Riverfest, like KMAZ, celebrated its 40^th anniversary in 2011.  In 1971, Wichita Festivals Inc. organized the Wichitennial River Festival and Traders Day Celebration, which by 1974 grew into the 10day annual event now known as the Wichita Riverfest. The Riverfest continues to achieve its original goal of bringing our community together, building community pride and focusing onWichita’s great natural resource, theArkansas River.

 The Riverfest depends upon a score of community volunteers, and KMAZ has long lent its support.  Gary Austerman served as a member of the Wichita Festival Inc. Boardof Directors from 1999 to 2005. Chris McElgunn just finished his six year term as a Board member in September 2011.  Since 2003, KMAZ legal assistant Annette Meece has averaged 25  hours of volunteer service during the Riverfest, selling food court tickets, admission buttons and concert merchandise.  The year 2011 was no different as Annette completed her 8^th consecutive year of service for the group.

The Kansas Aviation Museum hosts a United States Air Force B-47 plane that was retrieved from the Oklahoma state fairgrounds in 2007. The plane was assembled during the summer of 2010, but has needed a finished paint job before it is officially restored. On June 4, KMAZ gathered at the Kansas Aviation Museum along with regular museum volunteers to roll a fresh coat of paint onto the old war plane. KMAZ also donated the paint for the project.