As thousands mourned the tragic death of Kobe and Gianna Bryant at a memorial service Monday, Vanessa Bryant’s attorneys filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company that operated the helicopter that crashed last month, killing the Bryants and seven others.
Bryant, the NBA champion's widow, filed the suit against Island Express Helicopters and Island Express Holding Corp., in Los Angeles County Superior Court Monday morning, according to the Los Angeles Times. The lawsuit alleges that the pilot Ara Zobayan, who also died in the crash, neglected to use "ordinary care in piloting the subject aircraft."
"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 claims.
The 27-count complaint seeks general damages, economic damages, punitive damages and more.
The crash on Jan. 26, claimed the lives of the pilot, the Bryants, John Altobelli, 56, baseball coach at Orange Coast College and his wife Keri Altobelli; Alyssa Altobelli, the Altobellis’ daughter and one of Gianna's basketball teammates; Christina Mauser, basketball coach at Harbor Day School, Gigi Bryant’s school; Payton Chester, a middle school student; and Sarah Chester, Payton Chester’s mother.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have investigated the crash, which happened on a foggy Sunday morning on a hillside in Calabasas, California.
Experts have said weather conditions and possible mechanical issues could be at the top of the list as causes of the crash. The fog was severe enough that morning that the Los Angeles Police Department's Air Support Division grounded its helicopters and didn't fly until later in the afternoon, department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said.
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