Vanessa Bryant has reportedly settled a wrongful death lawsuit against Island Express Helicopters, the aircraft operators who were involved in the deaths of Kobe Bryant, and their daughter, Gianna, among seven others on board.
Complex reports via ABC 7 that Bryant and her associate plaintiffs agreed on a confidential settlement with the company earlier this week, just under a year and a half after the fatal helicopter tragedy in Calabasas.
Along with Kobe and Gianna, fellow passengers include Alyssa Altobelli, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, and Christina Mauser – who all died in the crash as well as Ara Zoboyan, the helicopter pilot, whose estate was stated as a defendant.
The Altobelli, Chester and Mauser families were said to be involved in the settlement as the terms of agreement note, remain undisclosed and have not yet been approved by the court.
Under a month following on from the crash in January 2020, news of the lawsuit became public, which consists of 72 pages and 27 counts. The lawsuit claims that the incident was, as quoted by Complex, “a direct result of the negligent conduct of Zobayan for which Defendant Island Express Helicopters is vicariously liable in all respects.”
The lawsuit also argues that Zoboyan didn’t “use ordinary care in piloting the subject aircraft.”
“Defendant Island Express Helicopters authorized, directed and/or permitted with full knowledge that the subject helicopter was flying into unsafe weather conditions,” the complaint read, “[The company] promoted and engaged in unnecessary and needlessly risky means of transport under the circumstances.”
Bryant sought damages—punitive, economic, and non-economic—as well as prejudgment interest and “other relief as the Court deems just and proper.” Suit also stated “Kobe Bryant’s future lost earnings equals hundreds of millions of dollars.”