Google cofounder Sergey Brin continues to face legal challenges as a second lawsuit emerges over a fatal plane crash that occurred in May 2023. The incident, involving a plane owned by Brin, resulted in the deaths of two pilots off the California coast.
The latest lawsuit, filed in July 2024 by the family of pilot Dean Rushfeldt, alleges multiple counts of negligence against Brin, his family office Bayshore Global, Google, and related companies.This legal action follows a similar suit filed in February by the widow of copilot Lance Maclean.
According to a Business Insider report, both lawsuits claim that improper maintenance and installation of a fuel bladder led to the crash. The plane, en route from Santa Rosa, California to Honolulu, ran out of fuel approximately 30 miles offshore.
The Rushfeldt family’s complaint alleges that Brin’s team made critical errors in the aircraft’s maintenance, including incorrect installation of equipment and failure to obtain proper certifications. Additionally, the lawsuit accuses Brin and his family office of “tortious interference with a dead body,” claiming they promised to recover Rushfeldt’s remains while never intending to do so.
Brin’s legal team has attempted to dismiss the earlier Maclean suit on several grounds, including federal law preemption. Google and one individual defendant have already been dismissed from that case.
The ongoing legal battle comes as Brin, who stepped back from Google in 2019, has recently returned to the public eye. Business Insider reports that he has been assisting with Google’s Gemini AI model development and making appearances at company events. With legal proceedings still in early stages, the full impact of these lawsuits on Brin and his various business interests remains to be seen.