When Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter accident, it shocked the world. It was even more devastating to learn about the loss of his daughter and the other passengers.
The accident was a result of negligence on the part of the pilot, but since he died, the families have filed lawsuits against the company that owned the helicopter and had responsibility for its operation. According to CNN, the families have reached a settlement over their wrongful death claims.
Settlement
While the families filed a lawsuit and prepared to go to court, the decision to settle the case is not uncommon. In many wrongful death cases, parties will come to an agreement outside of the courtroom, which will end the case and prevent the need for a trial.
However, when reaching a settlement, the court must still approve the terms. This helps guarantee fairness and that the agreement is legal.
Terms
In the Bryant case, the terms of the settlement are confidential. This, too, is not uncommon, especially in high-profile cases. It is often more for the party facing the accusations because it can help them to protect their interests and not let information revealed in the settlement become available to the public.
It also provides some privacy for the families who filed the case. The whole situation has been incredibly public since Bryant was famous. However, not everyone who lost their lives was well-known. Their families are not used to the attention the horrific incident brought. Keeping settlements under wraps may help them to finally start moving forward.
Reaching a settlement in a wrongful death case is what usually happens, so there is nothing unique about this situation. The hope is Bryant’s family was able to hold the company responsible and will now be able to focus on the memories of their lost family members.
