Ellen Dixon, of Brentwood, Calif., survived the helicopter crash that killed her husband, David, at a Livermore air show 11 years ago. She won a lawsuit against the helicopter company — the pilot had run out of gas — but there was little money there to collect. She also won a suit against the city, which sponsored the show, but it was overturned on appeal. Now the city’s insurance company is demanding that Dixon come up with $41,000 to pay their legal bills — money that Dixon, who still suffers pain from the injuries she suffered in the crash, doesn’t have, reports the Tri-Valley Herald. The only way she could raise it is to sell the house that she bought with her husband, where she still lives. Dixon’s lawyer, Terry O’Reilly, is livid, according to the Herald. Dixon needs the $41,000 a lot more than the insurance company does, O’Reilly says. The insurance company said it is simply following standard procedure.
Insurer Asks Victim’s Widow To Pay Court Costs
Key Takeaways:
- Ellen Dixon, a survivor of a fatal helicopter crash that killed her husband 11 years ago, is being pursued by the City of Livermore's insurance company for $41,000 in legal bills.
- This demand follows the overturning of her successful lawsuit against the city, despite her initially winning a separate suit against the helicopter company (which yielded little money).
- Dixon, who still suffers from crash injuries, cannot afford the payment and risks losing her home, a situation her lawyer deems unjust, contrasting with the insurance company's claim of standard procedure.
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