Legal news for California aviation accident attorneys. The family of one of the deceased victims filed a lawsuit for fatal wreck.

Southern California Edison faces lawsuit for helicopter crash in Sierra foothills that killed three California Department of Fish and Game biologists.

Los Angeles, CA– The family of a California Department of Fish and Game biologist who was killed in the helicopter crash in the Sierra National Forest foothills consequently filed a lawsuit. The helicopter crashed on January 5, 2010 after striking power lines, causing it to catch fire, as reported by the San Jose Mercury News and previous news coverage by Justice News Flash.

The lawsuit was filed in the Los Angles Superior Court last week, which names Southern California Edison and the helicopter owner, Landells Aviation of Desert Hot Springs as the defendants.

The Bell 206 helicopter reportedly went down in a narrow canyon near Redinger Lake, when the helicopter hit a power line, causing a fire. The crash killed three state scientists identified as Clu Cotter, 48, Kevin O’Connor, 40, and the pilot, Dennis Donovan. They were apparently conducting a routine aerial mission in the steep to study the feeding habits of deer herds when the helicopter crash occurred.

Clu Cotter’s family claims that a grounding wire was negligently hung 100 feet above the power lines, which led to the deadly chopper crash. According to industry standards, warning devices are required on static lines. The lawsuit contends that Edison failed to install such devices.

Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for California aviation accident lawyers.