April 17, 2024 - SAN DIEGO – The United States has recovered $2,020,000 in a lawsuit it brought on behalf of the Department of the Navy for damages incurred as a result of a May 30, 2020, aircraft collision at Brown Field Municipal Airport in San Diego.

In 2023, the United States brought a lawsuit against defendants Christopher Sanders, Tac Air Ops, LLC, Tac Air California, Inc., Kapowsin Air Sports, Ltd., the City of San Diego, Brown Field Municipal Airport, Brown Field Aviation Ventures, Inc., and Lancair Corporation seeking damages as a result of the defendants’ negligent acts and/or omissions arising from the aircraft collision. The collision involved a parked United States Marine Corps MV-22 “Osprey” aircraft and a taxiing De Havilland DHC-6-100 “Twin Otter” aircraft, owned by Kapowsin, and leased and operated by the Tac Air defendants.

On April 15, 2024, the United States and defendants stipulated to dismiss the case with prejudice, after entering a global settlement agreement in which the United States recovered $2,020,000.

“This unfortunate incident caused an MV-22 to be stricken from service, which resulted in a significant loss to the United States and the Department of the Navy,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Securing an early resolution in this case achieved the right result,” said McGrath.

This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Cile Glover-Rogers.

Case Number

United States of America v. Christopher Sanders et al., 23-cv-1000-W-DDL

SUMMARY OF CLAIMS

1.         Negligence

2.         Breach of Restrictive Covenants

AGENCY

The United States brought this lawsuit on behalf of the Department of the Navy
Source: DOJ Release