A Montreal doctor has won his small claims case against Air Canada and a judge ordered the airline to pay him $1,000 to compensate him for coming to the aid of a fellow passenger.

On a flight from Montreal to Paris in 2006, Dr. Henry Coopersmith offered to help a woman who was suffering a panic attack. After another doctor on the plane said he was caring for the woman, Coopersmith returned to his seat and fell asleep.

He was later awakened by a flight attendant who said she didn't trust the other doctor and asked Coopersmith to look after the passenger.

After calming the woman down, he returned to his seat and went back to sleep, only to be awakened again by the flight attendant who asked him to fill out some forms. Coopersmith claimed he did not get any sleep during the transatlantic flight.

When he got home, Coopersmith contacted Air Canada and requested two free transatlantic tickets in executive class as compensation. Air Canada offered 10,000 frequent flyer points.

He asked a small claims court for $3,058, which he calculated as the equivalent of an executive-class fare, the value of medical services rendered and compensation for a day of vacation lost.

In court, a judge ruled Air Canada benefited from Coopersmith's management of the airline's problem, but called his original claim exaggerated.

Air Canada did not comment, except to say it was studying the judge's decision.

Coopersmith says he intends to donate the $1,000 to a hospital.

With files from The Canadian Press