DJ AM: I'm Not After Crash Pilots' Money

Update

DJ AM: I'm Not After Crash Pilots' Money

Wed., Dec. 31, 2008 2:38 PM PST by Natalie Finn

AP Photo

UPDATE: Court documents filed March 13, 2009, state that DJ AM is seeking at least $20 million—$10 million to cover medical expenses, lost earnings and profits, and an equal or greater amount to compensate for mental and physical pain and suffering.
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DJ AM wants us to know he's not taking the fatal plane crash he survived personally.

In response to reports about his recently filed negligence lawsuit against those his legal camp feels are liable for the Sept. 19 crash that killed four and left AM and Travis Barker with severe burns, the celebrity spinner has taken issue with the interpretation that he is suing the families of the deceased pilots.

"Normally I don't feel like I NEED to make a statement like this, but after I read some recently reported untruths I feel like I have to," AM, whose real name is Adam Goldstein, wrote on his MySpace blog. "I want to take a second to address the hurtful posts and clear up any misunderstandings any of you may have about my law suit. I would NEVER sue the deceased pilots' estates or personal holdings."

Pilot Sarah Lemmon and copilot James Bland were killed along with Barker's assistant, Chris Baker, and security guard Charles Still when the Learjet they were navigating blew a tire and skidded off the runway on departure from Columbia, S.C.

"I am more than grateful that I survived this horrible accident and I'd never try to take anything from those that didn't," AM wrote.

"Despite the misinterpretations of the lawsuit, this suit is against the insurance companies that insured the pilots. I'm not after Sarah's or James' personal estates nor their property. Everyone involved in this suit has suffered a great deal, and I would not do anything to make matters worse for the deceased family and friends. Daily I live with the guilt and grief of what happened that night, what I saw, who was lost and why I was spared. I have no words to express the pain that comes with knowing four people died, while I lived."

AM is also seeking unspecified damages from charter companies Clay Lacy Aviation and Global Exec Aviation, Inter Travel and Services, Learjet, and Goodyear Tire and Rubber.

Similar lawsuits filed by Barker and Still's mother do not name the pilots' estates as defendants, but a complaint filed by Baker's wife does.

"The pilots were either poorly trained and/or failed to follow their training," states AM's suit, filed Dec. 23 in Los Angeles Superior Court.