Vanessa Bryant Sues Helicopter Company Over Kobe and Gianna’s Death

Vanessa Bryant, wife of the late Kobe Bryant and mother of Gianna, has filed a lawsuit against the helicopter operator and family of the pilot flying the helicopter that crashed, causing the death of her loved ones, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Attorneys for Vanessa Bryant filed a wrongful-death lawsuit on Monday against the company that operated the helicopter that caused the deaths of her husband, 13-year-old daughter and seven other passengers. Bryant’s complaint, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, was filed against Island Express Helicopters, Island Express Holding Corp. and the estate of the pilot, Ara Zobayan.

The wrongful death lawsuit stated that the pilot was careless and negligent by flying in foggy and cloudy conditions on January 26 and he should have aborted the flight. “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,” the lawsuit obtained by The Los Angeles Times reads.

Bryant filed the lawsuit on the same day as a public memorial service for Kobe Bryant and his daughter at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where he spent his entire 20-year career playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. The attorneys for Vanessa Bryant are Munger, Tolles & Olson and Kansas City-based Robb & Robb, which specializes in helicopter crashes.

Bryant was a five-time NBA World Champion, a two-time Finals MVP, and the 2008 Most Valuable Player. During Bryant’s career, he made the All-Star team 18 times. He was the youngest player to ever reach 30,000 points. Bryant retired from the NBA in 2016 and scored an NBA-season high 60 points in his final game.