Vanessa Bryant Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Kobe Bryant's Lost Future Earnings Amount To 'Hundreds Of Millions'

Vanessa Bryant is asking for monetary damages from Island Express Helicopters in the wrongful death lawsuit that stemmed from her husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna’s deaths in a fatal helicopter crash. The widow further claimed they lost “hundreds of millions of dollars” in earnings because of the NBA superstar’s demise.

The company mentioned owned the helicopter that Kobe and Gianna flew in on Jan. 26. It was supposed to take them, along with other parents and kids, to the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks when it crashed into a hillside in Calabasas. Vanessa is also asking compensation from the estate of Ara Zobayan – the pilot who was also killed by the accident.

"As a result of Kobe Bryant’s and GB’s deaths, Vanessa Bryant seeks economic damages, non-economic damages, prejudgment interest, punitive damages, and other relief as the Court deems just and proper. [A]lthough the total specific amount of personal injury damages the plaintiff seeks is TBD, Kobe Bryant's future lost earnings equal hundreds of millions of dollars,” documents obtained by Entertainment Tonight read.

In February, Vanessa filed the wrongful death lawsuit against the helicopter company, less than a month after Kobe and Gianna died. The basketball player’s family argued that Island Express Helicopters, its employees, agents, as well as the pilot who flew the aircraft had the “duty to use that degree of care that an ordinarily careful and prudent pilot would use under the same or similar circumstances."

The lawsuit accuses Zobayan of not properly assessing the weather before the flight and failing to secure weather data before the takeoff. It also alleged that the company knew the pilot was unfit because of a violation in 2015.

After Vanessa filed the lawsuit, the helicopter company later claimed that Kobe and his daughter Gianna should have known the risk that comes with flying. It also alleged that the unfortunate fatal crash was not its fault simply because it was an “act of God.”

“Kobe Bryant and GB [Gigi] had actual knowledge of all of the circumstances, particular dangers, and an appreciation of the risks involved and the magnitude thereof, and proceeded to encounter a known risk, and voluntarily assumed the risk of the accident, injury ... thereby barring or reducing [Vanessa's] claim for damages,” Island Express Helicopters said.