Complicated Litigation Involves At Least Nine Parties

The insurance industry is watching as two Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologists litigate over injuries they suffered in a helicopter crash which occurred during a project to put tracking collars on wildlife. The Insurance Journal reports the lawsuit seeks compensation for the loss of the helicopter, loss of reputation, investigation costs, loss of earnings and business disruption.

Biologists George Pauley and Craig White reportedly filed their lawsuits last Wednesday in Second District Court in Lewiston. The exact details are not known, only that damages in excess of $10,000 each are being sought. The Lewiston Tribune reports the two are suing the pilot, Richard C. Swisher, who with his wife owns Quicksilver Air; Rolls-Royce Corp. and Rolls-Royce North America; The Timken Company of Ohio, dba Timken Alcor Aerospace Technologies of Arizona: H.E.R.O.S. Inc. of California; Arrow Aviation LLC of Louisiana; and 11 Aerospace LLC of Arizona, doing business as ASI Services.

The Swishers filed a lawsuit the next day in U.S. District Court, claiming that the company bought a compressor from H.E.R.O.S that had been built by Timken, and which turned out to have a fractured bearing.

FMI: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/