The family of the pilot who flew the helicopter that crashed, killing Kobe Bryant and his daughter on January 26th is fighting to have 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.
Vanessa Bryant sued both the helicopter company and pilot Ara Zobayan’s estate in February, claiming that Zobayan failed to obtain weather data and didn’t cancel the flight despite poor weather conditions before taking off on that fateful day.
Vanessa, who is seeking hundreds of millions in damages, has demanded a jury trial. Lawyers for Zobayan’s estate say they intend to ask for the trial be moved outside of Los Angeles since the locals wouldn’t be impartial because of his status as a five-time championship winner for the Lakers, The US Sun reported.
“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, according to the outlet.
The families of four other victims who perished in the crash have also filed wrongful death suits against the helicopter company Island Express Helicopters.
A trial date has not yet been set.
