Trial Magazine

Hester West, a flight nurse, and Elisabeth Corcoran, a flight paramedic, were aboard a helicopter that was departing from Air Methods, a Missouri air medical transport company. On takeoff, the pilot lost control of the helicopter, which crash-landed.

West, 45, suffered a T-12 burst fracture and a coccygeal fracture. She underwent a T-12 laminectomy with pedicle screw fixation from T10-L2 and decompression of the spinal canal.

She developed paraparesis secondary to the spinal cord injury and endured a lengthy hospitalization, followed by extensive rehabilitation. She continues to suffer pain and a limited range of motion in her back.

Corcoran, 28, suffered a closed fracture at L-1 and underwent a laminotomy, tapping of extruded bone fragments back off the spinal canal, and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation from T11-L3 with tented kyphoplasty on the left side. She required a lengthy hospitalization and intense rehabilitation, and she continues to have back pain and limited movement.

West and Corcoran sued Air Methods and the pilot, and the two lawsuits were consolidated. The plaintiffs alleged that their spinal injuries occurred because the company had replaced the helicopter’s shock-absorbent passenger seats with non-energy-absorbing aftermarket ones. They alleged that they would have escaped serious injury if the helicopter had had shock-absorbent seats.

The parties settled for $3.3 million.

Citation: West/Corcoran v. Cameron, No. 14PT-CC00073, Consolidated with No. 14PT-CC00075 (Mo. Cir. Ct. Pettis Cnty. Mar. 11, 2016).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Gary C. Robb and Anita Porte Robb, both of Kansas City, Mo.; and AAJ member Mark T. Kempton, Sedalia, Mo.