updated 12:21 p.m. ET July 24, 2008

NEW YORK - A New York City lawyer is suing Delta Air Lines Inc. for $5 million, claiming the carrier's incompetence and indifference left him stranded in Paris for four days last October during an airport workers' strike.

Thomas Mullaney says Atlanta-based Delta refused to let passengers rebook flights by telephone and for "unfathomable" reasons insisted they go to the chaotic airport and rebook there.

Mullaney says he paid $5,000 for two round-trip tickets and Delta refused to reimburse him for the unused portion. He returned home on American Airlines.

Mullaney's lawsuit says he believes Delta stranded and failed to reimburse thousands of passengers. It was filed Wednesday in Manhattan and seeks class action status.

Delta spokeswoman Betsy Talton says she can't comment on pending litigation.

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