Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLCScarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Firm Insights

Discovery Channel Facing Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Helicopter Crash

Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

Date: May 2, 2014

Key Contacts

Back

Hollywood movie and television sets present numerous dangers.

For example, stunt men put themselves at risk in action movies but actors and stunt men aren’t the only ones that can be harmed, as a Discovery Channel cameraman was recently killed in a helicopter crash.

According to Deadline, the network faces a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit from the father of the cameraman. He is seeking “general damages in a sum in excess of the jurisdictional limits of this court, which will be stated according to proof.”

Let’s examine the law to see if the cameraman’s father has a chance of being successful.

Wrongful Death Constituents

First, we need to look at who is able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This includes immediate family members, life partners, financial dependents, distant family members and other persons who suffer financially. With that said, the father should have no issues with this part of the law.

Next, we’ll want to examine what the father needs to prove in order to recoup damages. By claiming negligence, it needs to be shown that the defendant owed the victim a duty of care, that the defendant breached that duty which was the direct cause of the death and the death caused damages that are being sought. For example, if investigators find the Discovery Channel didn’t properly ensure the helicopter was safe, they may have to pay out damages.

The following are some of the damages that can be recouped for wrongful death:

  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Loss of the deceased person’s expected income
  • Loss of love and companionship

The cameraman’s father is reportedly seeking damages for the loss of love, companionship and support as well as “other benefits and assistance of descendant,” so it will be interesting to see if he is able to prove the Discovery Channel is at fault.

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Related Posts

See all
New Jersey’s Next Manufacturing Tax Credit: Stability Secured, Timing Matters post image

New Jersey’s Next Manufacturing Tax Credit: Stability Secured, Timing Matters

A Settled Regulatory Environment Enables Confident Capital Planning New Jersey’s new manufacturing incentive program, Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program,  enters 2026 with something uncommon in economic development these days: policy stability. The statute is enacted, New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (“NJEDA”) rules are adopted, and the application portal is open. With the election outcome settled, […]

Author: Michael J. Sheppeard

Link to post with title - "New Jersey’s Next Manufacturing Tax Credit: Stability Secured, Timing Matters"
A Simple Guide to Industry Roll-Up Acquisitions post image

A Simple Guide to Industry Roll-Up Acquisitions

When done successfully, industry roll-up acquisitions can dramatically grow and strengthen your business. In this post, we break down what an industry roll-up is, why companies pursue it, and what makes it an effective (and sometimes risky) business strategy. What Is an Industry Roll-Up Acquisition? In an industry roll-up acquisition of companies, a buyer acquires multiple companies […]

Author: Dan Brecher

Link to post with title - "A Simple Guide to Industry Roll-Up Acquisitions"
Genesis Mission: How the U.S. Government’s New AI Platform Will Reshape Corporate Innovation, Risk, and Competition post image

Genesis Mission: How the U.S. Government’s New AI Platform Will Reshape Corporate Innovation, Risk, and Competition

The federal government has launched one of the most ambitious scientific initiatives in decades, and it will redefine how companies develop technology, manage risk, and compete. The Genesis Mission, created by Executive Order and driven by the Department of Energy (“DOE”), is intended to accelerate scientific discovery through a national AI platform that links supercomputers, […]

Author: Michael J. Sheppeard

Link to post with title - "Genesis Mission: How the U.S. Government’s New AI Platform Will Reshape Corporate Innovation, Risk, and Competition"
Stablecoins and the GENIUS Act: How New Global Rules Are Reshaping Compliance post image

Stablecoins and the GENIUS Act: How New Global Rules Are Reshaping Compliance

Stablecoins Leave the Grey Zone Stablecoins were supposed to be the “boring” part of crypto: digital dollars that just work. Yet for years they have lived in a regulatory no-man’s-land, classified one day as securities, the next as commodities, and sometimes as something regulators had not even named yet. That uncertainty is finally starting to […]

Author: Bryce S. Robins

Link to post with title - "Stablecoins and the GENIUS Act: How New Global Rules Are Reshaping Compliance"
Don’t Overlook the Importance of Business License Management post image

Don’t Overlook the Importance of Business License Management

If you operate a business without the proper license, you risk fines, insurance issues, reputational harm, and even business closure. Even innocent mistakes, like forgetting to renew a license, can have significant consequences, such as losing your lawsuit for payment of services that are unlicensed, which makes it imperative to have business license management procedures […]

Author: Dan Brecher

Link to post with title - "Don’t Overlook the Importance of Business License Management"
Failing to Comply With NJ Rent Control Exemption May Prove Costly post image

Failing to Comply With NJ Rent Control Exemption May Prove Costly

What Developers Need to Know About New Jersey’s Rent Control Exemption Law to Ensure Entitlement to Exemption for Newly Constructed Multi-family Housing.  A property owner in Jersey City is facing a $400 million federal class action lawsuit alleging that the landlord did not follow the procedural steps required to be eligible for exemption from local […]

Author: Patrick T. Conlon

Link to post with title - "Failing to Comply With NJ Rent Control Exemption May Prove Costly"

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!

Explore What Matters Most to You.

Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.

Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.

Let`s get in touch!

* The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. By providing a telephone number and submitting this form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message & data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. You can reply STOP to opt-out of further messaging.

Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!