I don't think so. Even if they did, Kobe Bryant's wife wasn't a passenger.
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I don't think so. Even if they did, Kobe Bryant's wife wasn't a passenger.
I’ll have to go back n research but from what I understand the pilot was given clearance (from FAA I think?) to fly that day.
And most times when you do any extreme hobbies like rock climbing, sky diving, bungee jumping, and private non comercial aviation - these companies have you sign waivers that if you die they are not legally responsible (unless it’s like gross negligence I think could a person win a lawsuit even after signing away their rights in a waiver)
I just don’t see how she would win a lawsuit here.
Also I highly doubt life insurance, if he had any, paid out for this because they consider private aviation too risky
The fact that she’s suing now makes me wonder what kind of money he left her
She should win because the pilot was extremely negligent. He was flying at 180 mph when the visibility was extremely poor, in a helicopter that wasn't certified to fly in those conditions. Helicopters don't need clearance for taking off because they don't operate out of airports.
I'm pretty sure Vanessa still has everything, because as his wife, everything would have been jointly owned.
^ i see what you mean
However from what I understand the pilot got some sort of specific clearance to fly in low visibility weather.
I don’t know how anyone can prove he was negligent though. From what I have seen it’s easy to get disoriented and the pilot has to rely on their instruments. How do they know the instruments didn’t malfunction?
And I know she’d have assets due to joint ownership ni guess I was thinking about perhaps she will live off of investments or whatever posthumous passive income he has coming in.
If anyone gets money out of a lawsuit it should be the other victims who probably have lesser means than her.
The helicopter didn't have instruments for flying in low visibility conditions, which is why the pilot was negligent. He shouldn't have flown.
I agree the other victims' families should be compensated. I think his wife is suing more for principle than for money. Kobe was worth $600 million when he died, so his wife and surviving children are probably set for life.
The helicopter did have instruments, the pilot was certified (Apparently was also an instrument instructor.) but the company was certified to only fly VFR - Switching to instruments could only be done in an emergency, would bring scrutiny on the pilot and company, and is not easy to do. It is not certain if the pilot had practiced instrument landings. Seems the FAA is looking into if it should have given 'special permission' for the conditions 'less than standard VFR of 3.5 miles visibility'...
All-in-all the too common cause is 'get there itis' - High power client, the company wants to please, pushes the limits....
Couple that with a client that has a history of making game saving last second game winning shots, and feels immortal...
Just sad all around for all involved.
Vanessa Bryant's speech at memorial for Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKlx1mrL-AA
On February 9, 930am, NTSB will hold a virtual public hearing on the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash near Calabasas CA. I don't have the link to it, I guess one could go to ntsb.gov to find it or else google search.