Sorry about this, but I have to do it...
...Just in case the Maureen Dowd Rule cuts both ways...
Posted on 03/01/2007 6:00:57 PM PST by buccaneer81
Dentist to Affluent Sues Lidle Estate By SAMUEL MAULL
NEW YORK (AP) - A dentist to the rich and famous has filed a $7 million lawsuit against the estate of late New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle, claiming his home was destroyed when the ballplayer's small airplane crashed into his apartment building.
Dr. Lawrence Rosenthal says in court papers that after Lidle's Cirrus SR-20 aircraft crashed into the Manhattan building where he lived with his wife and teenage son, they had to vacate their 43rd-floor apartment.
Rosenthal, whose patients include Donald Trump, Bruce Springsteen and Catherine Zeta-Jones, said his apartment sustained "severe damage, including broken windows, smoke damage, loose bricks and extensive other damage" that forced them out.
The plane, with Lidle and flight instructor Tyler Stanger aboard, hit the Upper East Side building on the 30th floor, 13 floors below Rosenthal's apartment, on Oct 11. Lidle, 34, and Stanger, 26, were killed in the crash.
The two had taken a midday flight past the Statue of Liberty and north up the East River. They apparently had trouble when they tried to turn and head south.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigated, but its report said it reached no final conclusions about the cause of the accident, nor did the agency's report say who was at the controls when the airplane crashed.
Rosenthal's lawyer, David Jaroslawicz, said Thursday that "everything was destroyed" in his client's home and the family has been renting while waiting to return. He said their home is actually three apartments joined to make one apartment that is worth "several million dollars."
Rosenthal's lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Manhattan state Supreme Court, names Lidle's wife, Melanie Lidle, as the defendant in her capacity as administratrix of her late husband's estate.
A lawyer for her, Robert N. Clarke Jr., issued a statement saying attorneys for the Lidle and Stanger families had filed wrongful-death lawsuits against Cirrus Design Corp., maker of the airplane, in California. He said the lawsuits allege product liability, negligence and other complaints.
A spokeswoman for Cirrus Design didn't immediately return messages left on her office phone and cell phone on Thursday.
Rosenthal was in the news in January, when he sued best-selling dating-book author Ellen Fein for $5 million after she called him a quack on the LyingDentist.com and BadDentist.com Web sites. She accused him of ruining her mouth.
The lawsuit accused Fein, author of "The Rules," of defamation, harassment and extortion.
Fein's lawyer, Ann McGrane, said she planned to file a motion to dismiss Rosenthal's lawsuit, and she said she was sure it would be granted.
So if someone crashes their car through your front window, you won't try to obtain compensation.
It's not likely that he will be dragging the widow through this, I'm sure her attorney and the company who insured the aircraft are going to be the ones under the gun. What is really outrageous is that the aircraft manufacturer is being sued. That is absolutely nuts.
I think insurance would cover it. If it were a driver with no insurance, I might go after him, depending on the cost of the suit vs. using my own insurance.
You're talking apples and oranges here. A millionaire suing the estate of a millionaire. This was an accident, and these people have insurance.
Even if the dentist had insurance, his insurance company would very probably try to recover the loss by suing the one liable for the loss.
But this suit seems more like a 'pain and suffering' type suit, rather than for physical damages.
If you sit in the driver's seat of a car or a plane, you are liable.
would if you were a bottom feeding lawyer.
One reason why most goods and services are over-priced, especially health care. Lawyers looking for their 33%.
I find it hard to believe a crash 13 stories below him "ruined everything".
I'd immediately award Court Costs (plus pain and suffering $$$) to the airplane manufacturing company.....
That's the truth. But I'm betting the dentist is a member of DU.
If someone crashes their car into my house, the way to make their insurance company pay the claim (unless the do so voluntarily) is to sue them. Absent a lawsuit, the driver's liability insurance is under no obligation to pay anything.
To be sure, I could file a claim instead under my own homeowner's policy, but
LOL! This explains a lot!
Sorry about this, but I have to do it...
...Just in case the Maureen Dowd Rule cuts both ways...
(good post)
The article says Dr. Larry is going after Melanie Lidle as executrix of the estate.
I have no problem with a lawsuit if things are dragging, but do it to an insurance company. I seriously doubt Melanie Lidle is trying to prevent anyone from recouping their damages.
Hard to see how this guy suffered a $7 Million loss when the aircraft impacted 13 stories below him. The fire was confined to the impact apartment. The most he would have had is a little smoke.
It's also hard to see how this accident was Cirrus Design's fault. Lidle flew his aircraft up the East River and tried to turn around over the river in order to avoid the controlled airspace to his North. He misjudged his position and flew into a building. The aircraft performed perfectly right up to the point of impact. So how is it Cirrus' fault?
That's actually a decent picture of MoDo.
Dentists always make me laugh when I meet them in social settings.
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