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Jury Sides with Cirrus in $100 Million Cory Lidle Trial

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A New York federal jury cleared Cirrus Design of blame for the October 2006 crash of an SR20 aircraft that killed New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and flight instructor Tyler Stanger.
  • The verdict rejected a $100 million lawsuit from the victims' widows, which claimed a flight control binding problem caused the crash, instead aligning with the NTSB's finding of pilot error.
  • Cirrus Design expressed gratification that the jury confirmed their long-held belief that the SR20 did not cause the accident.
  • Lawyers for Lidle's widow announced plans to appeal the decision.
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A New York federal jury on Tuesday found Cirrus Design does not bear any blame for the October 2006 crash of an SR20 that killed New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle, 34, and flight instructor Tyler Stanger, 26.

The pair crashed into a high-rise apartment building as they attempted to make a turn in the tight confines of Manhattan’s East River Corridor. The widows of Lidle and Stanger sued Cirrus for $100 million, saying a binding problem with the SR20’s flight controls prevented the men from making the turn. The theory ran counter to the NTSB’s accident findings that pilot error was to blame.

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