Vanessa Bryant.Photo: ESPN
Vanessa Bryantand family members of those who died in the January 2020helicopter crashthat killedKobe Bryant, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, and seven others have reached a settlement agreement in thewrongful death lawsuitagainst the company that owned the helicopter involved.
Bryant, 39, filed her lawsuit against Island Express Helicopters in February 2020, claiming that Ara Zobayan, who was piloting the flight at the time of the crash, “failed to properly monitor and assess the weather prior to takeoff,” “failed to abort the flight when he knew of the cloudy conditions” and “failed to properly and safely operate the helicopter resulting in a crash.”
Zobayan died in the crash along with Kobe, Gigi,John Altobelli, 56, Keri Altobelli, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Sarah Chester, 45, Payton Chester, 13, and Christina Mauser, 38. The group had been on their way to a youth basketball game at Kobe’s Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks, California, when the helicopter crashed into a mountain.
Gianna and Kobe Bryant in 2019.Ethan Miller/Getty
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Vanessa and her daughters — who are also named as plaintiffs — along with the families of the other victims sought general, economic and punitive damages.
In response to the lawsuit, a rep for Island Express Helicopters previously told PEOPLE, “This was a tragic accident. We will have no comment on the pending litigation.”
Attorneys for the company claimed that the late father and daughter thus “voluntarily assume the risk of the accident, injury, and damages.”
The settlement comes just two days after Vanessashared a tributeon Instagram to Kobe on the second Father’s Day after his death.
“To the best girl dad~ Happy Father’s Day, Papi,” Vanessa wrote,sharing a photoof the NBA star with his four daughters:Natalia, 18,Bianka, 4, Gigi, 13, and Capri, 2.
“We love you forever and always, always and forever. Love you always, Nani, Gigi, B.B, Koko and VB ❤️” she added.
If you would like to help the families of the victims of the crash, consider donating to theMamba on Three Fund. Contributions to theMamba and Mambacita Sports Foundationwill help support youth sports.
source: people.com
