A lawyer in Syracuse, New York, has secured a significant victory after suing the Syracuse Hancock International Airport over a rejected advertisement for her sexual harassment law firm. Megan Thomas’s initial ad request was denied, but now a much larger version of her advertisement is prominently displayed at the airport.

Initial Ad Rejection and Legal Action

Megan Thomas signed a contract last summer to advertise at the airport. Her proposed ad read: “When HR called it harmless flirting … we called it exhibit A.” However, the airport requested she soften the wording, deeming it “harsh.” Instead of complying, Thomas filed a federal lawsuit in August 2025.

Lawsuit Details and Court Ruling

The lawsuit alleged that the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) initially approved a draft of the ad but then reversed course, citing concerns that the slogan was “threatening” or “intimidating” to men. The SRAA also expressed worries about potential negative feedback from the community and local politicians. Court documents reveal the SRAA suggested alternative slogans.

Judge Anthony Brindisi ruled in Thomas’s favor, dismissing the SRAA’s concerns as “nonsense.” He compared the ad’s wording to a Chick-fil-A advertisement, arguing that neither was inherently misleading. Shortly after the judge’s ruling, the two sides reached a confidential settlement.

Billboard Triumph and Business Impact

As a result of the settlement, Thomas now has a massive, pink advertisement featuring her image displayed on two walls of the airport. The ad includes the original slogan. Thomas stated that calls to her Syracuse-based firm have “way up” since the sign went up.

She has already hired an additional attorney and plans to hire another office staffer to manage the increased workload. Thomas explained that she intentionally chose to advertise at the airport because many of her clients have experienced sexual harassment during work-related travel.

Airport Authority Response

In a statement, the SRAA called the judge’s decision “unfortunate” but emphasized that the settlement allows both parties to focus on their primary functions while preserving the authority’s operational control. The new, larger ad went up a few weeks ago.