Breast cancer survivor sues over patdown

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A breast-cancer survivor has sued the U.S. Transportation Security Administration for what she says was an intrusive patdown.

Adrienne Durso's lawsuit is being handled by the Philadelphia law firm that sued the TSA on behalf of two pilots, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. In that case, the TSA decided that pilots will not be subjected to patdowns.

Drinker Biddle and Reath LLP, which is representing Durso and several other challengers of the security procedures pro bono, says their constitutional right to protection from unreasonable searches was violated. The law firm wants the TSA to drop the use of whole body scans and enhanced patdowns.

Durso, a Carlsbad, Calif., resident said she went through a metal detector at the Albuquerque airport on Aug. 25 but was then subjected to a patdown. In a telephone interview with a San Diego TV station, she said the agent "heavily concentrated on my breast area where I told her I'd had a mastectomy the year previous and it just seemed to go on and on."

She said her teenage son was told he was not subjected to a patdown because he does not have "boobs."