Families sue helicopter company over Kobe Bryant crash
Lawsuits allege wrongful death
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The survivors of four people killed in a helicopter crash with Kobe Bryant and his daughter are suing the companies that owned and operated the aircraft.
The families of four people killed in the crash filed wrongful death lawsuits against Island Express Helicopters Inc. The suits were filed electronically on behalf of John and Keri Altobelli's children. The Altobellis and their daughter Alyssa died in the crash.
A second lawsuit was filed by Christina Mauser's husband and children. Mauser coached at Bryant's Mamba Academy. She too was aboard the flight on the day it went down in foggy weather north of Los Angeles.
Both lawsuits accused Island Express of acting carelessly and negligently in the crash that killed nine, including the NBA legend and his daughter. A similar lawsuit by Bryant's widow, Vanessa, accused pilot Ara Zaboyan of failing to us “to use ordinary care in piloting the subject aircraft." It claims the crash was caused by his negligence.
Zaboyan was also killed in the crash.
The January crash claimed the lives of the 41-year-old NBA legend, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, Payton Chester, 13; Sarah Chester, 45; Alyssa Altobelli, 14; Keri Altobelli, 46; John Altobelli, 56; Christina Mauser, 38; and Zobayan, 50.
