Kobe Bryant’s ‘Mamba Sports Academy’ is suing the helicopter company involved in the deadly crash over compensation and burial expenses for a passenger and one of its coaches, Christina Mauser.
According to new legal documents, obtained by The Blast, ‘Sports Academy’ — which changed its name after Bryant’s death — filed a lawsuit against Island Express helicopters for its responsibility in the deadly January 26, 2020 crash that killed the NBA legend, his daughter, and several others. One of the people on board, Christina Mauser, was a coach for the Academy’s basketball team, and the group was traveling to a game at the time of the crash.
In the filing, the Academy says Mauser was an employee of the organization and was insured for workers’ compensation. So, the lawsuit claims “during the course and scope of her employment with [The Academy], she was injured by [Island Express], who negligently caused the conditions which fatally injured [Mauser] and ultimately resulted in her death.”
‘Sports Academy’ Blames Helicopter Pilot For Causing Deadly Accident
As you know, several lawsuits have been filed against the helicopter company after families — including the Bryant’s — blamed the horrific accident on the pilot’s decision to fly in poor weather. In the lawsuit, the Academy claims the company was “negligent and careless” in this case and should be “obligated to pay death benefits and burial expenses pursuant to the worker’s compensation provisions of the Labor Code of the State of Californi, which sums have been paid to [Mauser’s] heirs.
In the documents, the Academy claims, at this point, $127,000 has already been paid to the Mauser family.
Christina Mauser’s husband, Matt, broke his silence on the tragic accident on the one-year anniversary hosting a ‘Concert for Christina: A Musical Tribute Benefiting the Christina Mauser Foundation. During the event, Matt performed a song with his 12-year-old daughter — Penny — who he revealed nearly boarded the helicopter on that fateful day.
Christina Mauser’s Husband Says Couple’s 12-Year-Old Daughter Almost Got On Aircraft
Matt shared the heartbreaking story, explaining he had booked a concert for that same day and asked his wife if Penny could skip the basketball tournament and perform instead. He recalled telling his wife, “Well, I have a show and she’s been feeling well so I don’t want her to go because she’s going to be performing this song.” He continued, “We never looked back.” Adding, “We don’t think about whether or not fate had a different direction for us. We just stick to what we know.”
As we reported, back in June, Kobe Bryant’s wife settled a similar lawsuit against Island Express. According to the legal documents, the settlement is confidential. Vanessa Bryant filed the lawsuit in 2020, alleging the pilot in the crash was negligent and careless and directly contributed to Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s deaths. In the suit, Bryant alleged that Island Expresses’ FAA operating certificate prevented pilots from flying in foggy conditions — like the morning of the crash — therefore, this pilot violated the rules.
Unfortunately, Kobe Bryant was killed alongside Christina Mauser after the helicopter slammed into a hillside in Calabasas, amid extremely foggy weather.
The lawsuit is ongoing.
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