Los Angeles Law Firm Owen, Patterson & Owen to Set Up Informational Website in Robinson Helicopter Crash Lawsuit

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Robinson Helicopter is the lone defendant in a trial which began in Brisbane, Australia on Thursday, September 13^th (Supreme Court of Queensland, Number S 4573/07). The trial is expected to last 14 days. The justice presiding over the trial has ordered that the case be bifurcated. If successful on liability, the damage phase will begin sometime thereafter. Due to Mr. McDermott's severe injuries, he was no longer able to operate his 1.5 million acre cattle ranch. It is anticipated that Mr. McDermott's economic loss will be very substantial.

“Graham is the grittiest, toughest and most honest man I have ever met. He and his family loved the challenges that came with living in one of the world’s most dangerous environments, the Australian Outback. This crash has taken all of that from him.”

A brief summary on the facts of the case are as follows:

Mr. McDermott achieved his success as a cattle rancher through hard work and a good business plan, allowing him to acquire 1.5 million acres as of the date of his accident. Due to the size of his ranch, Mr. McDermott utilized a helicopter to check the property’s fence lines and muster cattle. He hired a certified and licensed pilot to fly his Robinson model RC22 helicopter. Thirty minutes into the flight, the helicopter crashed, and the fuel tank broke open and ignited a fire upon impact. The helicopter pilot sustained fatal injuries in the RC22 Robinson helicopter crash, and Mr. McDermott suffered severe burns on his body.

What began as a very technical case has been streamlined by the senior barrister representing McDermott to an issue that any layperson could understand. The plaintiffs contend that had the maintenance manual set out the proper procedures for mechanics to maintain a component part, referred to as a flex plate, the accident would not have occurred.

Personal injury attorney Greg Owen said, “Graham is the grittiest, toughest and most honest man I have ever met. He and his family loved the challenges that came with living in one of the world’s most dangerous environments, the Australian Outback. This crash has taken all of that from him.”

“It is our understanding that there are lawsuits throughout the world involving Robinson Helicopter,” Owen states. “The information obtained through this trial will be important to prevent future accidents involving Robinson helicopters.”

The firm plans to provide critical documents pertaining to the trial to AAJ and CAALA, the largest lawyer organizations in the world. They will also keep the public informed through an informational website (www.robinsonhelicoptercrashdefect.com).

Owen is currently in Australia and will be in the courtroom for the duration of the trial.

About Owen, Patterson & Owen

The law firm of Owen, Patterson & Owen has successfully represented clients in a variety of personal injury cases ranging from auto accidents to wrongful death. The firm is located in Los Angeles and serves clients worldwide. For more information, please contact the firm at [phone].