Bishop Legal Secures Multimillion-Dollar Settlement in Sea-Tac Airport Injury Case

Attorney Raymond Bishop reached a settlement for a ramp agent injured by a defective airport tug.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 7:12pm

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Bishop Legal attorney Raymond Bishop has announced the resolution of a multiparty lawsuit stemming from a catastrophic workplace incident at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in 2022, where a ramp agent was ejected from and run down by an airport tug with faulty safety features, resulting in severe injuries. The settlement includes a $2.175 million payment from the Port of Seattle's insurer.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of workplace safety, especially in high-risk industries like airport ground operations. It also underscores the responsibility of employers, equipment manufacturers, and other parties to ensure the safety of their workers and the public.

The details

While working as a ramp agent for McGee Air Services providing ground services for Alaska Airlines, Tia Valentine was ejected from and run down by an airport tug that was driven by her co-worker. The tug had no doors, no cab, and no guardrails to keep Tia inside, and the replacement seat was in poor repair with a faulty seat belt, causing Tia to slip off the side of the tug. Her right leg was crushed and the skin ripped from her body by the wheels of the airport tug.

  • The incident occurred on September 16, 2022.
  • The settlement was announced on March 13, 2026.

The players

Raymond Bishop

An attorney at Bishop Legal, a nationally recognized personal injury law firm that represented Tia Valentine in the lawsuit.

Tia Valentine

A ramp agent for McGee Air Services who was severely injured when she was ejected from and run down by an airport tug at Sea-Tac Airport.

Port of Seattle

The operator of Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, which was named as a defendant in the lawsuit and agreed to a $2.175 million settlement.

TLD America

The manufacturer of the defective airport tug that was involved in the incident.

Daifuku (formerly Elite Line Services)

The company responsible for the poor maintenance of the passenger seat and seat belt on the airport tug.

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What they’re saying

“Bishop Legal is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm dedicated to representing individuals who have suffered serious injuries due to negligence, unsafe working conditions, and defective products.”

— Raymond Bishop, Attorney, Bishop Legal (rivertonjournal.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the dismissal of Tia Valentine's lawsuit now that all settlement payments have been received.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of workplace safety, especially in high-risk industries like airport ground operations, and the responsibility of employers, equipment manufacturers, and other parties to ensure the safety of their workers and the public.