On the same day that mourners filed into the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the memorial service remembering NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, lawyers representing Vanessa Bryant filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company responsible for the helicopter carrying Kobe and Gianna, along with John, Kerri and Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah and Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and pilot Ara Zobayan on January 26.
[RELATED: Stars React to Kobe Bryant’s Death in Helicopter Crash]
According to the L.A. Times, Zobayan, has been accused of negligence and failure “to use ordinary care in piloting the subject aircraft.” The suit also holds Island Express Helicopters and Island Express Holding Corp. with “breach of its duty and negligence” which resulted in multiple deaths. So, while the pilot was directly responsible for the deaths of all nine people on board, including himself, Island Express holds vicarious responsibility.
No specifics have been released regarding the compensation that is being sought, however, the suit details 27 different counts of negligence, including failure to abort the flight, along with weather violations and failure to maintain a safe distance from natural obstacles. On the morning of the flight, reports state that fog and mist reduced visibility in the area, possibly obstructing the view of the terrain.
[RELATED: Kobe Bryant’s Wife, Vanessa, Shares School Tribute to Daughter Gianna]
The suit also notes that Zobayan had previously been cited for similar offenses with regard to having limited vision due to weather conditions. The company “promoted and engaged in unnecessary and needlessly risky means of transport under the circumstances,” it states.
