Vanessa Bryant v. Island Express Helicopters, Inc.

BACKGROUND

This action arises from the January 26, 2020, helicopter crash in Calabasas, California that resulted in the deaths of Kobe Bryant; his minor daughter, GB; six other passengers, and the pilot, Ara George Zobayan (“Zobayan”). (See Dkt. 1-3, Exh. C, First Amended Complaint (“FAC”)). On April 15, 2020, plaintiffs Vanessa Bryant, individually and in her capacity as widow of and successor in interest to Kobe Bryant and as the mother of, and/or successor in interests to GB, a minor; NB, a minor; BB, a minor, and CB, a minor, (collectively, “plaintiffs”), filed the operative First Amended Complaint in state court against Island Express Helicopters, Inc.; Island Express Holding Corp. (collectively, “IEX”) and Berge Zobayan, as Personal Representative of and/or Successor in Interest to, Ara George Zobayan, asserting numerous state-law claims relating to the crash. (See id.). On August 14, 2020, IEX filed a Cross-Complaint for Indemnity and Declaratory Relief against Kyle Larsen (“Larsen”) and Matthew Conley (“Conley”), in their individual capacities. (See Dkt. 1-2, Exh. B, Third-Party Complaint). IEX alleges that at the time of the accident Larsen and Conley “were acting…