Vanessa Bryant says that Kobe Bryant’s death cost their family “hundreds of millions of dollars.”

On Monday, 38-year old Bryant submitted a case summary statement to Los Angeles Superior Court that details the extensive damages she is pursuing from her wrongful death lawsuit against Island Express Helicopters, whose pilot, Ara Zobayan was flying a helicopter carrying Kobe, Gianna and six others when it crashed on a foggy morning on January 26. All onboard, including 50-year old Zobayan, died in the accident.

“Although the total specific amount of personal injury damages that Plaintiff seeks is TBD, Kobe Bryant’s future lost earnings equal hundreds of millions of dollars,” the case summary statement filed on Monday said.

The family of the pilot who flew the helicopter that crashed, killing Kobe Bryant and his daughter in January says the NBA star’s wrongful death trial can’t be held in Los Angeles because jurors there can’t be impartial, according to a report. “Defendant Zobayan intends to file a motion to transfer venue to a county outside Los Angeles county on the grounds that an impartial jury cannot be empaneled in Los Angeles Superior Court in this matter,” the court documents say. Island Express declined to comment when contacted.

Bryant had begun to amass an empire of businesses and endorsements in the years since his retirement from the NBA. He had launched the Mamba Sports Academy as well as multimedia agency Granity Studios, which produced Bryant’s Oscar-winning short film ‘Dear Basketball’. Vanessa Bryant’s position makes sense considering the fact that Kobe would have continued to earn massive amounts of money in the Entertainment and Sports businesses if he were still alive. But, her legal team will still have to prove the company and/or the pilot are responsible for the tragic accident.

The fatal helicopter crash occurred Jan. 26 in Calabasas, California. The Los Angeles County medical examiner-coroner’s office identified blunt-force trauma as the official cause of death for all nine passengers.

At the time of his death, Kobe Bryant’s fortune was estimated at $600 million. His substantial ownership stake in Bodyarmor, worth $200 million as of 2018, passed to Vanessa Bryant and his surviving children, FOX Business reported last month.

 

References

 

Avila, P. (2020, June 9). Kobe Bryant’s Death Cost Family ”Hundreds of Millions” of Dollars. Retrieved from https://www.eonline.com/news/1159523/vanessa-bryant-seeks-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars-in-kobe-bryant-wrongful-death-lawsuit

Avila, P. (2020, June 9). Vanessa Bryant Seeks ”Hundreds of Millions” of Dollars in Kobe Bryant Wrongful Death Lawsuit. Retrieved from https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/vanessa-bryant-seeks-hundreds-millions-002200677.html

DeGregory, P. (2020, June 9). Kobe Bryant’s wrongful death trial shouldn’t be held in LA: pilot’s lawyer. Retrieved from https://pagesix.com/2020/06/09/kobe-bryants-wrongful-death-trial-shouldnt-be-in-la-pilots-family/

Hahn, J. D., & Hahn, J. D. (2020, June 8). Vanessa Bryant Seeks Extensive Damages Over Helicopter Crash That Killed Kobe and Gianna. Retrieved from https://people.com/sports/vanessa-bryant-pursuing-millions-in-damages-over-crash-killed-kobe-gianna/

Tegna. (2020, June 9). Lawsuit: Kobe Bryant’s death cost his family ‘hundreds of millions’ of dollars. Retrieved from https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/nation-world/vanessa-bryant-seeks-damages-over-helicopter-crash-that-killed-kobe-and-gianna/507-113cc3aa-a36d-42dd-b585-df370a82a1f5