Vanessa Bryant files wrongful death lawsuit against helicopter company over fatal crash

On Monday, lawyers representing Vanessa Bryant — the widow of Kobe Bryant and mother of their daughter, Gianna Bryant — filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Island Express, the company that owned and operated the helicopter that fatally crashed last month with her husband, daughter and seven others onboard.

Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times broke the story:

The complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Fillmore-based Island Express Holding Corp. and Island Express Helicopters alleges that pilot Ara Zobayan, who also died in the crash in Calabasas, failed “to use ordinary care in piloting the subject aircraft” and was negligent.

“Defendant Island Express Helicopters authorized, directed and/or permitted a flight with full knowledge that the subject helicopter was flying into unsafe weather conditions,” the lawsuit says.

Kobe Bryant, the complaint alleges, died “as a direct result of the negligent conduct of Zobayan” for which “the company is vicariously liable in all respects.”

The 27-count complaint, which also names Zobayan’s estate as a defendant, seeks compensatory and punitive damages. The amount isn’t specified.

Both sides’ lawyers did not comment in Fenno’s story.

Vanessa Bryant and the city of Los Angeles mourned her late husband and daughter during a public memorial at Staples Center on Monday morning.

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