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Families Sue Helicopter Firm In Kobe Bryant Crash

By Akinwale Akinyoade
21 April 2020   |   9:14 am
On January 26, the world was thrown in mourning following the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant alongside eight others including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. In development to their death, the families of four passengers who were killed in the helicopter have filed a lawsuit against the firms that owned and operated the chopper. According…
Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant

FILE – In this July 26, 2018, file photo former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna watch during the U.S. national championships swimming meet in Irvine, Calif. Federal investigators say wreckage from the helicopter that crashed last month and killed Bryant, his daughter and seven others did not show any outward evidence of engine failure, the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson,File)

On January 26, the world was thrown in mourning following the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant alongside eight others including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

In development to their death, the families of four passengers who were killed in the helicopter have filed a lawsuit against the firms that owned and operated the chopper.

According to reports, the lawsuits were filed on Sunday in the Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of the families of basketball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri and their 13-year-old daughter Alyssa, who played basketball with Gianna and of assistant coach Christina Mauser, celebrity gossip website TMZ said.

The complaints accuse Island Express Helicopters and Island Express Holding Corp. of negligence.

We earlier reported that Bryant’s widow Vanessa also filed a  wrongful death lawsuit against the Fillmore-based Island Express Holding Corp. and Island Express Helicopters in relation to the death of her husband Kobe and their daughter Gigi.

Victims of the crash | CNN

Vanessa’s attorneys filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that the company who owned the Sikorsky S-76B helicopter, Island Express Helicopters and Island Express Holding Corp, were only allowed to fly under visual flight rules, and the conditions the day of the crash were not conducive for such flying.

The 27-count complaint is seeking general damages, economic damages, punitive damages and more.

The suit was filed nearly two months ago .

The helicopter was headed to Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, where his daughter was set to play. The other victims included another of Gianna’s basketball teammates, Payton Chester, and Payton’s mother Sarah.

The death of Bryant, a five-time NBA champion for the LA Lakers and double Olympic gold medalist — shocked players and fans around the world.

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