Calif. wildfire helicopter crash families to settle lawsuits
Calif. wildfire helicopter crash families to settle lawsuits
05 June 2010
published by www.firerescue1.com
USA — The families of seven firefighters killed and three injured in the crash of a firefighting helicopter in Northern California in 2008 have reached a tentative settlement in various lawsuits.
The Oregonian newspaper reported Friday the proposed settlements in the August 5, 2008, crash of the Sikorsky S-61 helicopter resulted from mediation this week by a federal judge.
A lawyer for four victims said the amount of the settlements with Carson Helicopters, Columbia Helicopters and the U.S. Forest Service was still being finalized.
At least two lawsuits had sought $10 million for each victim. The crash was considered the deadliest of its kind in U.S. history, killing nine men, including seven contract firefighters with Grayback Forestry of Merlin, Ore