$15.2 million awarded in fatal Marine copter crash
Four Marines were killed when their helicopter hit a utility tower at Camp Pendleton in 2004. A jury agreed that San Diego Gas & Electric had negligently failed to install lights.
SAN DIEGO - A jury today awarded $15.2 million to the families of four Marines killed in a 2004 helicopter crash at Camp Pendleton.
The four died when their helicopter crashed into a 130-foot-tall utility tower at the Marine Corps base. The families had filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against San Diego Gas & Electric Co., alleging that the power company was negligent for not installing safety lights on the tower.
"We feel justice has finally been done," said plaintiffs' lawyer Todd Macaluso. "It's been a long four years to drag these poor families through this."
Since the crash, the power company has installed lights, Macaluso said.
Killed in the crash were Capt. Adam Miller, 1st Lt. Michael Lawlor, Staff Sgt. Lori Privette and Cpl. Joshua Harris. The helicopter crew, all veterans of Iraq, were practicing late-night, low-level flying. They were part of a squadron based at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station.
The same jury, overseen by Superior Court Judge David Oberholtzer, will now consider whether to add punitive damages to the award.
In court, lawyers for SDG&E argued that the crash was the result of errors by the crew and not caused by the lack of lights.
tony.perry@latimes.com
