Amanda Marsh, the widow of Dominic Damian, has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court over Damian’s death in the Murphy Canyon plane crash. The complaint targets the pilot’s company and the pilot’s estate, alleging the jet was flown negligently in hazardous conditions. Marsh is represented by attorneys Amy Martel and John Hammerstrand.
Lawsuit alleges pilot failed to recognize hazards
The complaint, filed this week, argues that pilot David Shapiro failed to recognize and respond to dangerous flying conditions and was negligent in operating the aircraft, according to CBS 8. Marsh’s suit names companies tied to the plane and seeks damages connected to Damian’s death along with other losses the family says they have suffered.
Investigators: Low approach, out-of-service lights
Federal investigators say the Cessna came in well below the recommended altitude on final approach and struck power lines before crashing into the Murphy Canyon neighborhood on May 22, killing all six people on board, according to The Associated Press. A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board also notes that runway alignment lights that could have helped during the foggy approach had been out of service since March 2022, with repairs delayed by an environmental review, as KPBS reports.
Widespread damage and community impact
The crash scattered debris across several blocks, ignited jet fuel and damaged dozens of vehicles and nearby homes as neighbors ran for safety, leaving more than 100 residents temporarily displaced, according to the Times of San Diego. Photos and witness accounts from the scene showed charred cars and at least one home destroyed by the fire.
Other claims already in motion
Marsh’s lawsuit is the latest civil case tied to the Murphy Canyon crash. The daughter of photographer Celina Kenyon filed a wrongful-death suit in October, and several neighbors have lodged tort claims as precursors to their own lawsuits, according to FOX 5/KUSI as reported by Yahoo News. Those earlier filings similarly accuse the pilot and related companies of negligence in flying despite poor weather and reported issues with instrumentation.
What the suit could mean legally
Wrongful-death complaints typically seek compensation for funeral costs, the loss of financial support and the emotional harm families experience. Plaintiffs must show that the defendants had a duty of care, breached that duty and caused the death. If Marsh succeeds, the defendants could face significant monetary damages along with extended legal battles over liability and whether company practices or maintenance decisions played a role in the crash.
What comes next
Marsh’s case will move through the civil courts while investigators continue to examine what went wrong in the air and on the ground. The NTSB’s preliminary report does not assign blame, and a final report is not expected until next year, according to The Associated Press. Court dates have not yet been scheduled, and the pilot’s estate and the companies named in the complaint have not publicly responded.
For families in Murphy Canyon, the lawsuit is the latest chapter in a tragedy that began in May and has continued to ripple through the neighborhood. Hoodline will keep an eye on new court filings and investigation updates as the legal and technical reviews move forward.
