Airplane accident victim family members were awarded $10.5 million for the crash that took the life of airline pilot, Larry Koppie, in 1996 near Palwaukee Airport.
The airport was found liable for 90 percent of the airplane accident for having a ditch next to the runway.
The Gulfstream-IV jet was blown into the ditch during takeoff, damaging the wing flaps, landing gear, and brakes.
The plane took off briefly, crashed by a nearby apartment complex and burst into flames, killing the two pilots, the flight attendant and the passenger.
Families of the other three airplane accident victims have all won wrongful death damages or settled with the airport and the companies involved.
Alberto-Culver Corp., which owned the jet, was found 5 percent liable for the plane accident, while Koppie was found only 5 percent liable.
Reference:
"Jury Awards Pilot's Family $10.5 Mil.," Chicago Sun Times, Abdon Pallasch, May 2003.
