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:
- Eleven years after surviving a helicopter crash that killed her husband, Ellen Dixon faces a demand for $41,000 from a city's insurance company for their legal bills.
- Dixon had previously won a lawsuit against the city, the air show's sponsor, but the judgment was overturned on appeal, leading to the insurer's demand.
- Still suffering from her injuries and lacking the funds, Dixon may be forced to sell her home to pay the amount, a situation her lawyer condemns as a harsh application of "standard procedure."
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