Family Awarded $8 Million In Suit Over Helicopter Crash

Reprinted From: The Advocate, September 17, 1998
Acadiana Bureau

OPELOUSAS A state district judge decided that the family of a Ville Platte doctor who died in a helicopter crash should receive more than $8 million.

Judge James Genovese decided the case in a written opinion Tuesday against Robinson Helicopter Co. and in favor of the family of Dr. James Ardoin.

Ardoin, 30, piloted a Robinson R22 helicopter in his work. He died on the morning of Oct. 14, 1994, moments after he took off from Moosa Memorial Hospital in Eunice.

The plaintiffs said the accident was caused by a defect in the helicopter's fuel mixture control system causing an interruption in flow of fuel to the carburetor. The helicopter company said pilot error was to blame.

Jerry McKernan and Gordon McKernan, of Baton Rouge, co-counsel for the plaintiffs, said the judge held Robinson Helicopter Co. 60 percent at fault, and found that Ardoin shared in the blame by 40 percent.

The judge awarded the family $6.5 million in lost income, $1.5 million in loss of consortium to Ardoin's wife and four children, and $25,000 for the victim's pre-impact fear.

Leslie Schiff of Opelousas, attorney for the helicopter company, said his clients have not decided whether they will appeal.

"We've not made any decisions on what we're going to do," he said.

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