NC Judge Awards $50M in Helicopter Wrongful Death Case

NC Judge Awards $50M in Helicopter Wrongful Death Case

Introduction

A North Carolina judge has ordered that $50 million be paid to the family of a Charlotte-based television meteorologist who died in a helicopter crash three years ago. The ruling found the companies that owned and operated the aircraft liable in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the victim’s widow.

Court Ruling and Insurer Obligations

Following an evidentiary hearing earlier this week, a state Superior Court judge directed the insurers for Total Traffic & Weather Network, iHeartCommunications, and iHeartMedia to make the payment within the next two months. The court concluded that the companies were responsible for the fatal crash and must compensate the victim’s family accordingly.

The 2022 Helicopter Crash

The tragedy occurred in November 2022, when the Robinson R44 helicopter crashed along a Charlotte-area interstate. The crash claimed the lives of the WBTV meteorologist and a pilot. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the purpose of the flight was to provide video training for the meteorologist over a simulated news scene.

Lawsuit and Defendants

The victim’s widow filed the wrongful death lawsuit in March 2023, naming the companies that owned and operated the helicopter and a maintenance facility as defendants. The maintenance facility was later dismissed from the case. The lawsuit alleged negligence in the operation and maintenance of the aircraft, leading to the death of her 41-year-old husband, who left behind four children.

NTSB Findings and Expert Testimony

An NTSB report released last year concluded that the probable cause of the crash was inadequate inspections, which led to a loosening of hardware and a loss of control. Investigators discovered that a key component on the main rotor was disconnected and missing its connecting hardware.

Plaintiffs’ experts supported and expanded upon the NTSB’s conclusions, asserting that the crash resulted from operational and maintenance failures committed by the defendants.

Judgment and Settlement Structure

The total judgment entered was $126.3 million, which included a $105 million valuation jointly agreed upon by attorneys from both sides and deemed fair by the jury. However, by prior agreement, the defendants’ primary insurers will pay $50 million of that amount.

The victim’s widow may now pursue the remaining balance from the companies’ excess or umbrella insurance carriers, who have reportedly declined further coverage for the wrongful death claims.

Company Response

Total Traffic & Weather Network and iHeartCommunications are subsidiaries of iHeartMedia, which declined to comment on the ruling through a spokesperson.

Remembering the Victim

The meteorologist, a North Carolina native, had previously worked in Raleigh, Texas, and Virginia before returning to Charlotte, where he grew up. A licensed pilot for over 20 years, he worked for Total Traffic & Weather Network. Police officials praised him for steering the helicopter away from the interstate during the crash, preventing further casualties.

Family and Legal Reactions

In a statement, the victim’s wife expressed that while the settlement cannot bring her husband back, it represents a meaningful acknowledgment of the profound impact of his loss.

Her attorney added that the family hoped the lawsuit would drive improvements in helicopter operations and maintenance within the broadcasting and weather industry. “We believe the industry got the message,” he said, emphasizing that safety reforms are already being implemented as a result of the case.