Helicopters in Hubei

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clpstaff &clp articles

The Robinson Helicopters case finally ended in August when a Californian court upheld a PRC judgment. Although a positive development, this is unlikely to lead to Chinese courts enforcing US judgments

The saga of the Robinson Helicopters case (Hubei Gezhouba Sanlian Industrial Co., Ltd. and Hubei Pinghu Cruise Co., Ltd. v Robinson Helicopter Company, Inc) began in March 1995, and finally ended on August 12 2009 when a court in the US state of California upheld a US$6.5 million PRC judgment against the American aircraft manufacturer.

Robinson R44 helicopterThe case was triggered when a Robinson R-44 helicopter crashed into the Yangtze River, killing three people. The machine was owned by two Chinese companies – Hubei Gezhouba Sanlian Industrial and Hubei Pinghu Cruise. A few months after the crash they decided to sue the manufacturer in the US in an action based on negligence, strict liability and breach of implied warranty.

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