Vanessa Bryant Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Helicopter Company

Vanessa Bryant is suing the company that owned the helicopter involved in the crash that killed her husband Kobe Bryant, daughter Gigi, and seven others.

According to TMZ, Vanessa claims the aircraft should never have been placed in the peril it was in before the January 26 accident, given the fact that the fog "was extremely low and the pilot was in blinding conditions before the mishap."

"Island Express was only allowed to fly under visual flight rules, and the conditions the day of the crash were not conducive for such flying," the outlet reports of the the lawsuit. Adding, the pilot was going 180 miles per hour in the heavy fog in a steep decline in the moments before it crashed in Calabasas, CA.

The lawsuit additionally claims that "the pilot failed to properly monitor and assess the weather prior to takeoff, failed to obtain proper weather data prior to the flight, failed to abort the flight when he knew of the cloudy condition, failed to maintain control of the helicopter and failed to avoid 'natural obstacles' in the flight path."

The suit, per TMZ, states Island Express engaged in unnecessary and needlessly risky means of transportation under the circumstances.

Vanessa is reportedly seeking damages for "pre-impact" terror — "the emotional trauma Kobe and Gigi suffered as the pilot struggled to get out of the clouds before the crash." While the lawsuit does not list an amount of damages sought, "Vanessa is asking for punitive damages, claiming the pilot and Island Express were reckless, and the damages could be untold millions."

The lawsuit also seeks "damages for loss of love, affection, care, society, service, comfort, support, right to support, companionship, solace or moral support and expectations of future support and counseling," as well as, "money for loss of financial support and for burial and funeral expenses," TMZ reports.

Photo: Getty Images


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