Kobe Bryant – Family Of Pilot Demands Trial Be Held Outside Of L.A., Argues Jury Can’t Be Impartial

Kobe Brant, Ara Zobayan

Kobe Bryant – Family Of Pilot Demands Trial Be Held Outside Of L.A., Argues Jury Can’t Be Impartial

The family of Ara Zobayan – the now-deceased pilot involved in the deaths of basketball icon Kobe Bryant and seven other passengers on their fatal helicopter ride in January – have a request regarding Vanessa Bryant‘s lawsuit against the copter company, Island Express. The Zobayans want their court appearances to take place outside of Los Angeles County. Kobe Bryant holds enormous cultural significance in Los Angeles considering his five-time championship run for the Lakers, and the pilot’s family and legal team feel there’s no way jurors can remain impartial in the case.

In the Zoboyan family’s response to Vanessa Bryant’s demand for a trial, court documents read:

“Defendant Zobayan intends to file a motion to transfer venue to a county outside Los Angeles county on the grounds that an impartial jury cannot be empaneled in Los Angeles Superior Court in this matter.”

Vanessa Bryant, Kobe Bryant

Both Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant and the families of the rest of the passengers have filed wrongful death lawsuits against the helicopter company and Ara Zobayan’s estate, citing recklessness on his behalf. Ara Zobayan allegedly did not adhere to weather guidelines when he boarded that flight, and due to the loss of both her husband and 13-year-old daughter, Gianna – Vanessa is seeking an unknown amount in punitive damages. Vanessa says that Kobe Bryant’s future earnings would have amounted in hundreds of millions of dollars had he not been killed in the accident. Unfortunately, Ara Zobayan’s wife reportedly blames the other victims of the helicopter crash for their deaths.

Dates for Vanessa Bryant’s trial against Island Express Helicopters have not been set yet.

Do you think the trial should be held in L.A. County? Let us know in the comments.