It was hidden in the article between all of the annoying ads, but the FAA fined her after the incident, and it looks like she hasn't paid up, so the lawsuit is to enforce the fine. She's hasn't been charged with anything which is probably why the FAA needs to file a civil lawsuit to enforce the fine.
I agree, it's not helping her, but the FAA is just a Federal agency so I doubt they can do much else. I'm surprised she wasn't criminally charged, I'm sure that sort of behavior is against some law. Maybe she just has the white circumstances to avoid legal trouble.