Bryant and his daughter “have actual knowledge of all circumstances, specific hazards, and appreciation for the risks involved and the magnitude of those risks, and continue to face known risks, and voluntarily assume the risk of accidents, injuries, and damage,” wrote an attorney for Island Express in the archive.
The company said the accident, which killed all nine people in it, was caused by an unexpected event out of control and argued that they were not responsible for damage “because of God’s actions.”
The submission came in response to a false death suit filed by Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, on February 24, the same day a funeral was held for Kobe and Gianna Bryant. The lawsuit declared Island Express and pilot Ara Zobayan responsible for the accident, citing a number of accusations of negligence.
The helicopter crashed into hilly terrain in foggy conditions on January 26. Flights are on their way to Thousand Oaks, California, for a basketball game, where Gianna, 13, is expected to play and Kobe, 41, is expected to train.
CNN has requested comments from lawyer Vanessa Bryant.
In a previous submission, the pilot’s brother in the accident said that the passenger was wrong and negligent, according to recent court papers.
Lawyers for Berge Zobayan, registered as the successors to interest for Ara Zobayan, accused “any injury or damage to their plaintiffs and / or their deceased directly caused in whole or in part by the plaintiff’s negligence or misconduct and / or their deceased,” according to a seven-page document.
The lawyer added that passengers know the risks involved.
“And that this negligence was an important factor in causing the damage they claimed, for which the respondent defendant was not responsible,” said the response.
No trial date scheduled yet.
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