Jerry Cadigan et al vs. Liberty Helicopters, Inc., a New York Corporation et al

Case Background

On April 25, 2018, Plaintiff Jerry Cadigan and Nancy Caton Cadigan filed a Wrongful Death lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court(Case number: 152286/2018). Judge James Edward D'Auguste presided over the case.

Cause

On March 11, 2018, Trevor Norris Cadigan was a passenger on a 2013 Eurocopter AS350 B2 helicopter, registration number N350LH, operated by Liberty Helicopters on behalf of NYONair and FlyNYON. The helicopter conducted a scheduled 30-minute "doors-off" aerial photography tour over New York City. During the flight, the helicopter experienced a loss of altitude and descended rapidly into the East River off Manhattan. It crashed into the water, rolled onto its side, and quickly sank. Cadigan and the other passengers were cinched into heavy-duty harnesses attached to the helicopter floor. These harnesses, secured from the back by a metal carabiner, proved to be a deadly trap, as passengers could not reach the release mechanisms on their own.

Injuries

Trevor Norris Cadigan drowned as a result of the helicopter crash. He was unable to free himself from the harness that secured him as it sank into the East River. The complaint alleged that Cadigan likely experienced pre-impact terror, mental anguish, and conscious pain and suffering in the moments before his death. The harness system, intended to secure passengers during the doors-off flight, became a death trap in the water. The complaint also noted that passengers were provided only with a knife to cut through their harnesses, which proved ineffective in the emergency situation

Damages

Cadigan's family members, as plaintiffs, sought extensive damages for wrongful death, including pecuniary losses due to his death, grief, sorrow, and funeral expenses. They claimed damages for the loss of services, consortium, companionship, comfort, society, instruction, guidance, counsel, training, and support from Cadigan. Additionally, they sought compensation for the loss of probable support, past and future lost income, house