Gary C. Robb "Attorney Gary Robb Is By Far The Most Successful Helicopter Crash Lawyer In The Country." — Forbes

"We believe that maximum justice for our clients must include doing everything in our power to expose and eliminate product defects, dangers and corporate wrongdoing, so that others will be saved from suffering the same fate." -Gary Robb

Gary C. Robb

Founding Partner/Attorney

gcr@robbrobb.com

Mr. Robb has obtained numerous record-breaking results on behalf of past clients, including the two highest jury verdicts in U.S. history for helicopter crash wrongful death, $350 million and $116 million, the largest pretrial settlement for an individual wrongful death in U.S. history of $100 million (in 2024), and the largest pretrial settlement for an individual personal injury in U.S. history of $100 million (in 2018).

Mr. Robb is past President of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA). Mr. Robb has been selected by his peers as one of “The Best Lawyers In America,” which has come to be regarded by both the legal profession and the public as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States. He has been a Board-Certified Civil Trial Lawyer since 1994.

He has served as Co-Chair of the Aviation Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Litigation, and is Past Chair of the Aviation Section of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) (formerly ATLA). He has also served as Chair of AAJ’s Product Liability Section and of the Trial Evidence Committee of the ABA’s Section of Litigation. Mr. Robb serves on the AAJ Board of Governors.

Mr. Robb has authored numerous articles on trial technique, products liability, and aviation matters published in Trial Magazine Journal of Products Liability, National Law Journal, Journal of The Missouri Bar, Northwestern University Law Review, and has been General Editor of the Missouri Products Liability Handbook since 1984. His writings have been cited by a number of courts and legal scholars throughout the United States.

""We believe that maximum justice for our clients must include doing everything in our power to expose and eliminate product defects, dangers and corporate wrongdoing, so that others will be saved from suffering the same fate." -Gary Robb"

Author of THE authoritative text We Defined the Modern Practice of Helicopter Crash Litigation

"This book is an essential volume...by accomplished trial lawyer Gary Robb, who has used these same techniques in a brilliant career..." - International Press Publications -

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Mr. Robb has received numerous honors and awards and handled many high profile cases. Mr. Robb served as lead counsel for Vanessa Bryant, widow of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, in her helicopter crash lawsuit for the wrongful death of her husband and daughter Gianna. Mr. Robb also represented Senator Jean Carnahan in the lawsuit arising out of the airplane crash that killed her husband, Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan.

In 2020 he was recognized as an “Influential Lawyer” for his career of case accomplishments contributing to aviation safety. In 2014 Mr. Robb received the “Influential Appellate Advocate” award in the state of Missouri for his work on the successful appeal of a $52.5 million plane crash case. In 2014 Mr. Robb was also the recipient of the Thomas G. Strong Trial Attorney Award for the Missouri attorney “who most exemplifies the qualities of Professionalism, Ethics, Character, and Courtroom Success.”

Gary C. Robb is a Cum Laude graduate of The University of Michigan School of Law and has a Masters Degree in Economics. In addition to his many trial successes, Mr. Robb is extremely active in professional legal organizations and is a sought-after speaker and prolific author.

Mr. Robb is the only Plaintiffs’ trial lawyer in the country who has obtained five (5) jury verdicts or settlements of $100 million or more for a single personal injury or single wrongful death. He also is one of only a handful of Plaintiffs’ trial lawyers nationwide to have obtained at least nine (9) jury verdicts and nine (9) settlements in personal injury or wrongful death cases in excess of $20 million.

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Gary C. Robb

"We believe that maximum justice for our clients and their families must include doing everything in our power to expose and eliminate product defects, dangers and corporate wrongdoing, so that others will be saved from suffering the same fate." -Gary Robb

Unsurpassed Record Of Success in Aviation Law

The two highest jury verdicts in the United States in helicopter crash trials: a $350 million verdict for a deceased pilot, and a $116 million verdict for a tour helicopter passenger killed in NYC East River water landing.
The largest pre-trial cash settlement for any individual wrongful death in U.S. history –$100 million (Nevada – 2024) for death from post crash fire of 31 year old man honeymooning from the UK.
The largest pre-trial cash settlement for any individual injury in U.S. history – $100 million (Colorado – 2018) for severe injuries suffered by a flight nurse in the crash of a medical helicopter.
A $90 million settlement for a passenger killed in a “doors off” helicopter flight (New York record).
A $70 million jury verdict for a passenger killed in a Life Flight helicopter.
A $52.5 million settlement on appeal of $48 million jury verdict for the crash of a Twin Otter aircraft with five fatalities ($10.5 million per victim).
A $48 million jury verdict for death of skydivers in plane crash immediately after takeoff.
A $38 million settlement for severe burn injuries in a Grand Canyon helicopter crash.
A $27.5 million settlement for a small plane crash – a United States record for a general aviation incident.
$26 million settlement for death of husband and wife in airplane crash (North Carolina record).
$25 million jury verdict for the death of Judge Michael Coburn.
$23 million jury verdict for family members killed by a drunk driver.
$21.7 million jury verdict for fatal crash of Bell medical helicopter (Kentucky record).
$20 million jury verdict in Adams v. Children’s Mercy Hospital, representing the largest medical malpractice verdict in the state of Missouri.

$18.4 million record settlement for wrongful death in Nebraska arising out of a helicopter crash.
$18 million settlement against the World Wrestling Federation for the death of wrestler Owen Hart.
$16 million jury verdict for crash of touring helicopter in Las Vegas.
$15 million settlement for death in Chicago plane crash caused by nonprofessional Morgan Stanley pilot.
$14 million settlement for the family of a boy killed in a school bus accident.
$12 million settlement for a burn victim resulting from a power line failure.
$9.25 million bad faith insurance settlement for the relatives of people killed in an automobile crash.
$8 million settlement for deaths in air ambulance helicopter crash caused by pilot texting.
$7.2 million jury verdict for death of cameraman while filming movie (Iowa record).
$5.9 million settlement in Underhill v. Jack Miller Subaru (arm injury during car dealership test drive).
$5.6 million settlement against Rolls-Royce Corporation for death of flight nurse in Indiana helicopter crash.
$5.1 million settlement in Langenbau v. Med-Trans (wrongful death in Iowa helicopter crash).
$5 million settlement prior to lawsuit being filed (death of flight nurse in Alabama air ambulance crash).
Representation of United States Senator Jean Carnahan for the plane crash death of her husband, Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan, and their son, resulting in a $4 million jury verdict at trial.

Credentials

Education

University of Missouri at Kansas City, B.A., With Distinction, 1977
University of Missouri at Kansas City, M.A., Economics, 1978
University of Michigan, J.D., Cum Laude, 1981

Authorships

Memberships and Associations

Member, Missouri and Illinois Bars
American Bar Association (ABA) (Member, Section of Litigation; Member: Products, Liability and Consumer Law Committee, Tort and Insurance Practice, 1981—; Trial Evidence Committee, 1981; Co-Vice-Chairman, 1988; Co-Chairman, 1991-1995, CLE Committee, Co-Chair 1995-1996; Co-Chair, Aviation Committee, 1996-1999; Council Member, 2000-2003)
American Association for Justice (AAJ) (Sustaining Member, Board of Governors, Sections on: Products Liability, Chair, 1997; Aviation, Chair; 2007; State Delegate)
Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (President, 2004; Vice-President, 2003; and Member: Executive Committee, 1999—; Board of Governors, 1993—); Tom Strong Trial Attorney Award (2014) (best exemplifying professionalism, ethics, character, and courtroom success)
Board-Certified Civil Trial Attorney, National Board of Trial Advocacy (since 1994)

“Robb & Robb LLC is the premier aviation law firm in the United States."

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Unsurpassed Record of Success

We have secured over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements, becoming aviation’s most influential safety advocate. Our record includes the two highest U.S. helicopter crash jury verdicts—$350 million and $116 million—and we are the only firm to recover $100 million or more for a single aviation death or injury in five separate jurisdictions nationwide.
Family Led, Nationally Recognized

Led by two generations of one family – husband and wife Founding Partners Gary C. Robb and Anita Porte Robb, their son and Partner Andrew C. Robb along with his wife, Partner Brittany Sanders Robb, this law firm is nationally recognized as the leader in aviation litigation. Guided by integrity, courage, and accountability, they have become a moral force, driving modern aviation reform and safer skies nationwide.
Leading Authority in Aviation Law
With decades of focused aviation litigation experience, this firm brings unparalleled knowledge to the most complex cases. Founding Partner Gary C. Robb authored the authoritative text on helicopter law, and the firms’ attorneys are widely regarded as the foremost experts in the field. No law firm is better equipped to navigate the technical, regulatory, and legal challenges that aviation cases is demand.