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FALDF

Flight Attendant Legal Defense Fund

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Nonprofit • 501(c)(3) Pending

Legal support for aviation employees—when it matters most.

Flight Attendant Legal Defense Fund removes cost barriers so Colorado-based aviation employees can assert their Colorado FAMLI and workplace rights. We fund essential case costs (court filing fees, records, transcripts, mediation, expert reports), pay providers directly, and publish plain-language guides so people can act quickly and safely.

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Facing a Colorado FAMLI investigation? Read our resource guide →

Counsel match
risk-sharing panel
$5,000–$7,500
retainer bridge
72 hours
triage & safety checks
Reimbursed first
from awards/recovery
Cap $30,000
board review for more
$30,000
Grant cap per matter
$5,000–$7,500
Typical retainer bridge
72 hours
Rapid triage window
100%
Confidential intake + donations

We fund case costs and, when contingency isn’t available, a retainer bridge ($5,000–$7,500 typical; up to $10,000 with board approval). We pay providers directly and seek reimbursement first from any fee/cost award or recovery. Merits-screened; not every application is funded.

FALDF — Flight Attendant Legal Defense Fund

We remove cost barriers so Colorado-based aviation employees can assert their Colorado FAMLI rights. We fund case costs and, when contingency isn’t available, a retainer bridge ($5,000–$7,500 typical; up to $10,000 with board approval). We pay providers directly and prioritize merits-strong, time-sensitive cases; if there’s a cost/fee award or recovery, the fund is reimbursed first.

Colorado sick leave fight

Colorado Sick Leave Fight: What Flight Attendants Must Know

Colorado’s Healthy Families & Workplaces Act (HFWA) is at the center of major legal battles involving United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and the Transport Workers Union. If you’re a Colorado-based flight attendant, your rights are affected. Visit our News + Resources sections for the full timeline, legal analysis, and updated guidance.

View Latest Updates →

Our Mission

The Flight Attendant Legal Defense Fund (FALDF) exists to remove cost barriers so Colorado-based aviation employees can exercise their Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) and related workplace rights. We focus on the case costs that block people from pursuing valid claims—court filing fees, medical and employment records, deposition transcripts, mediators, and independent experts. We pay providers directly and publish plain-language guides so people can act quickly, safely, and with confidence.

Case costs onlyNo attorney feesColorado aviation employees firstColorado FAMLI72-hour triageProviders paid directly

We’re launching in Colorado with a Colorado FAMLI focus and will expand as funding and volunteer capacity grow. Our long-term goal is to support crew nationwide on federal FMLA and related state programs while keeping our costs-only model and education at the center.

  • Phase 1: Colorado-based aviation employees • Colorado FAMLI.
  • Phase 2: Additional bases in Colorado & neighboring states; multi-carrier coordination.
  • Phase 3: National network for FMLA/state programs with vetted partner attorneys.

How funding works

  • Applicants complete an intake and provide documentation.
  • Cases are triaged quickly; urgent matters may be expedited.
  • We fund case costs (filing fees, records, transcripts, mediation, expert reports).
  • When contingency isn’t available, we may provide a retainer bridge — $5,000–$7,500 typical, up to $10,000 with board approval.
  • Funds are released in milestones (e.g., demand → mediation → depositions) and paid directly to providers; no cash to individuals.
  • If costs/fees are awarded or there is a recovery, the fund is reimbursed first.
  • We don’t earmark grants by airline or base; we publish quarterly transparency reports.
  • Solidarity Give‑Back (standard pledge): before funds are released, recipients affirm in the grant letter (grant agreement) that they will set aside up to 10% of their net recovery (after attorney fees) to help the next case. Because some matters end with no recovery (about 30%), this pledge sustains the fund for future applicants. If honoring the pledge isn’t feasible due to hardship, we’ll review at the beginning of the case during intake and grant signing.

How the fund works

We keep intake lightweight so crew can act quickly. Upload up to 20 supporting files (demand letters, scheduling memos, notices) to accelerate triage. Someone from the board or case coordination team follows up within 72 hours, often sooner.

Grants cover documented case costs and, if contingency isn’t available, a retainer bridge ($5,000–$7,500 typical; $10,000 cap with board approval). Every award is transparent, milestone-based, and reimbursed first if a fee/cost award or recovery occurs.

  1. 1

    Intake & conflict check

    Submit the secure form with your timeline, carrier, and any urgent documents. We confirm conflicts and safety needs immediately.

    Goal: 72 hours or faster triage (same-day for emergencies).

  2. 2

    Strategy huddle

    A conflict-screened committee maps legal strategy, budget, and potential panel matches. We may schedule a brief call to clarify facts.

    We focus on merits, deadlines, retaliation risk, and broader impact.

  3. 3

    Grant letter & pledge

    Approved applicants receive a grant letter outlining costs funded, any retainer bridge, and the Solidarity Give‑Back pledge (up to 10% of any net recovery).

    Funds are never paid to individuals—only to providers per milestone.

  4. 4

    Fund & follow

    We pay providers directly (e.g., filings → mediation → depositions) and request brief updates so we can report anonymized outcomes.

    If a recovery or cost award happens, the fund is reimbursed first.

Apply for Assistance

We prioritize urgent deadlines, safety risks, retaliation, unlawful termination/discipline, and cases with broad impact. Grants are paid directly to legal providers; we do not provide financial support to individuals.

Current grant cap: $30,000 (costs + any retainer bridge). When contingency isn’t available, the board may approve a retainer bridge ($5,000–$7,500 typical; cap $10,000).

Not ready for a grant but being retaliated against? We still want to hear from you. Intake volunteers can confidentially help you organize records, understand deadlines, and connect with peer advocates even if you never request financial support.

  • Eligibility: currently or formerly employed aviation employees based in Colorado (any carrier).
  • Geography: Colorado-based cases (expansion planned).
  • Conflict-free review; union membership not required.
  • Rapid triage: goal of 72 hours (faster for emergencies).

Paralegal support included

Accepted cases can tap FALDF's in-house paralegal team for records requests, timeline building, filing prep, and discovery coordination. We pay those costs directly so crew members are never invoiced for administrative work.

FALDF is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Everything shared with us is treated as confidential peer support, and we'll always encourage you to consult licensed counsel or your union for legal questions.

Read common questions →

By submitting, you agree to our provisional privacy policy and consent to secure contact. Do not include highly sensitive medical details—someone will request documents securely if needed.

Partner Attorneys (Free Consultations)

Attorney? Join our network →

These independent law firms participate in our risk-sharing panel. They provide no-cost initial consultations to Colorado-based aviation employees referred by FALDF and commonly use contingency or hybrid fee structures. When contingency isn’t available, the fund may offer a retainer bridge ($5,000–$7,500 typical; up to $10,000 with board approval) and is reimbursed first from any cost/fee award or recovery. Availability varies; scheduling is subject to each firm’s capacity. Our in-house paralegal team can be assigned to any funded matter to organize records, draft timelines, and manage filings without billing applicants directly. We are building a broader national panel as we expand to FMLA and other state programs.

Valerie Collins, Esq.

Towards Justice

Valerie Collins leads HFWA, FAMLI, and retaliation litigation at Towards Justice, representing flight attendants and other frontline workers in impact cases that test Colorado’s sick-leave protections. Her work includes coordinating CDLE complaints, class cases, and rapid-response investigations for union crews based in Denver.

HFWAPaid sick leaveRetaliationMedia contact

Contact

Office address

303 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 400Denver, CO 80203

Mailing address

1580 N Logan Street, Ste 660 PMB 44465Denver, CO 80203-1994

(720) 441-2236

info@towardsjustice.org
Profile & detailsFirm website

David H. Seligman, Esq.

Towards Justice

David Seligman, executive director of Towards Justice, litigates class and collective actions to enforce HFWA and Colorado wage protections. He advises unions and crew coalitions on systemic retaliation patterns, CDLE strategy, and public-impact cases on behalf of flight attendants.

HFWACollective actionsRetaliationColorado sick leave

Contact

Business address

2840 Fairfax Street, Suite 220Denver, CO 80207

(720) 248-8426

info@towardsjustice.org
Profile & detailsFirm website

Andrew H. Turner, Esq.

Milstein Turner, PLLC

Andrew Turner is a founding partner of Milstein Turner, PLLC, where he represents aviation employees and other workers in wage, whistleblower, and retaliation suits. His docket includes HFWA enforcement, federal wage claims, and high-stakes negotiations for crews disciplined after using protected leave.

HFWAWage claimsAirline disciplineRetaliation

Contact

Office address

1025 Pearl Street, Suite 404Boulder, CO 80302

303-440-8780

info@milsteinturner.com
Profile & detailsFirm website

FALDF is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Referrals are offered as a convenience without endorsement or guarantee of outcome.

Rapid Response

Triage within 72 hours; urgent matters expedited same-day when possible.

Transparent Funding

Quarterly reports detail grants, providers, and anonymized outcomes.

Systemic Change

We support impact litigation and education to prevent future harm.

Stay current

We keep the newsroom and FAQ pages updated so crews, journalists, and donors always have the latest information without digging through the homepage.

News & research

Track airline FMLA enforcement, Colorado FAMLI updates, and new FALDF resources.

Read the newsroom →

Airline-specific guides

Focused briefs for United, Southwest, Frontier, Delta, American, and Spirit crew based in Colorado.

Find your carrier →

FAQ & policies

Get detailed answers on eligibility, grant caps, reimbursements, and confidentiality expectations.

Browse FAQs →