The families of the victims who died in the January 2020 helicopter crash that took the life of NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, along with seven others, have reportedly settled a wrongful death lawsuit against Island Express Helicopters, the operating company of the helicopter that transported the passengers.
Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed in a helicopter incident where the pilot is said to be at fault, ABC News
reported.Related stories: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED RELEASES SPECIAL ISSUE HONORING KOBE BRYANT
Passengers Alyssa Altobelli, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, and Christina Mauser were all killed in the crash with longtime helicopter pilot Ara Zobayan, The New York Times reported.
However, in the suit, Zobayan, who was employed by Island Express Helicopters, was accused of not caring for his helicopter, which led to poor and insufficient choices like flying through thick fog.
According to legal documents
filed in court on Tuesday, the terms of the settlement are confidential and the parties involved are still finalizing the paperwork, obtained by Access Hollywood.The Bryants were seeking punitive, economic, and non-economic damages in addition to prejudgment interest, with their suit stating, “other relief as the Court deems just and proper. Kobe Bryant’s future lost earnings equals hundreds of millions of dollars.”
The lawsuit was initially filed in February 2020, with her attorneys stating back then that the company broke visual flight rules.
Conditions were also unsafe when Zobayan ignored weather data before taking off, “a direct result of the negligent conduct of Zobayan for which Defendant Island Express Helicopters is vicariously liable in all respects.”
The announcement of the settlement came two days prior to Father’s Day where the surviving Bryants honored the day of celebration without the famed Lakers player.
“Defendant Island Express Helicopters authorized, directed and/or permitted with full knowledge that the subject helicopter was flying into unsafe weather conditions,” the complaint read, “[The company] promoted and engaged in unnecessary and needlessly risky means of transport under the circumstances.”