New York Supreme Court judge approves $90M cash settlement to family of North Texas man killed in helicopter crash

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March 28, 2025

New York Supreme Court judge approves $90M cash settlement to family of North Texas man killed in helicopter crash

BY PAUL WEDDING

NEW YORK — A New York Supreme Court judge approved on Wednesday a record $90 million cash settlement to the family of a North Texas man who was killed along with four others in a helicopter crash in March 2018.

The man, 26-year-old Trevor Cadigan, drowned with the others after the tour helicopter they were riding in lost engine power and crashed into New York City’s East River. After crashing into the river, the helicopter’s safety floats didn’t work as they were designed to, causing it to roll upside down and its passengers to drown.

The judge’s decision on the $90 million settlement amount nulls any possible appeal on a decision from last September in which a Manhattan jury awarded Trevor Cadigan’s mother and sister $116 million.

“Mr. Cadigan died the most horrific death a human could suffer,” Gary C. Robb, the lead attorney for the Cadigan family, said in a statement. “The settlement forecloses any appeal of the $116 million jury verdict and brings to a close a seven-year legal court case.”

This $90 million settlement is the highest known settlement for a single wrongful death in New York legal history, according to VerdictSearch, a legal research firm. The previous record was $25 million.

Judge James d’Auguste, who presided over the three-and-a-half month trial, determined the settlement was “reasonable in all respects.”

At the time of his death, Cadigan had recently moved to New York City to begin his journalism career with Business Insider. He had graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in journalism. Before moving to NYC, Cadigan had also written for several years for GuideLive, the Dallas Morning News’ now-defunct entertainment-focused outlet.

Trevor Cadigan is the son of the late Jerry Cadigan, WFAA’s former production operations manager, who was employed at the station for more than 50 years. He died last July.

Robb says Cadigan’s family filed the lawsuit to put a spotlight on dangerous doors-off helicopter flights in hopes of improving helicopter safety.

“The family believes that this settlement will have an immediate impact on helicopter tour practices and will result in a significant increase in safety awareness and operations,” Robb said in a statement.

Categories:

Helicopter Accidents

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