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 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.
