Crime & Courts

Suit settled in Kansas boy’s death at Alabama airport

By JAY REEVES

Associated Press
Ryan Bresette, center, of Overland Park, reads a statement Wednesday at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Birmingham, Ala., after his family reached a legal settlement with contractors who worked on a renovation project at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. Bresette’s son, Luke, 10, died on March 22, 2013, when a multi-user flight information display fell on him and several of his family members. The terms of the settlement remain confidential.
Ryan Bresette, center, of Overland Park, reads a statement Wednesday at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Birmingham, Ala., after his family reached a legal settlement with contractors who worked on a renovation project at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. Bresette’s son, Luke, 10, died on March 22, 2013, when a multi-user flight information display fell on him and several of his family members. The terms of the settlement remain confidential. Tamika Moore Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.

A settlement over the death of a Kansas boy who was hit by a falling sign inside Birmingham’s airport was approved Wednesday, and the family said they had forgiven the contractors involved.

Luke Bresette, 10, of Overland Park, was crushed by a flight information sign that fell inside a renovated section of Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in March 2013. His family, returning home from a trip to Destin, Fla., was walking by when the free-standing flight information board toppled over.

Luke’s mother, Heather Bresette, was seriously injured. Two of his younger brothers also were hurt. The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against contractors who were involved in designing, making and installing the sign.

Luke’s parents and all four siblings each will receive an undisclosed amount of money from the companies under the agreement, approved by Jefferson County Circuit Judge Dan King.

Ryan Bresette, the boy’s father, thanked the companies for admitting that mistakes were made and taking steps to ensure they don’t happen again.

“Our family, in return, extends forgiveness to them,” he said outside court.

Bresette said it’s time for healing and reconciliation.

“We miss you … and we love you so very, very much,” Bresette, fighting back tears, said of his son.

This story was originally published September 3, 2014 at 10:33 AM with the headline "Suit settled in Kansas boy’s death at Alabama airport."

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