It was just reported that attorneys for Vanessa Bryant filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company that operated the helicopter that crashed last month and took the lives of her husband, daughter and seven other people as mourners gather at the Staples Center for a memorial service to celebrate the lives of Kobe and Gianna Bryant.
The complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Island Express Holding Corp. and Island Express Helicopters alleges that the pilot was “negligent” and failed “to use ordinary care in piloting the subject aircraft.” Ara Zobayan, also died in the crash.
The lawsuit states that “Defendant Island Express Helicopters’ breach of its duty and negligence caused the injuries and damages complained of herein and Plaintiffs’ deceased, Kobe Bryant, was killed as a direct result of the negligent conduct of Zobayan for which Defendant Island Express Helicopters is vicariously liable in all respects.”
Not only does the suit state that Island Express engaged in unnecessary and needlessly risky means of transportation under the circumstances, the pilot also failed to obtain proper weather data prior to the flight, failed to properly monitor and assess the weather prior to takeoff, failed to maintain control of the helicopter, and failed to abort the flight when he knew of the cloudy condition.
The pilot, Ara George Zobayan, was disciplined in 2015 for violating the visual flight rule minimums by flying into airspace of reduced visibility as the lawsuit additionally states.
Vanessa is asking for punitive damages, claiming the pilot and Island Express were reckless, and the damages could be untold millions. However, the amount she’s suing for hasn’t been shared
