SAN DIEGO, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- The family of four people killed when a Marine fighter jet crashed into their California home should get $56 million in compensation, lawyers said Wednesday.
Brian Panish, a lawyer representing the family, told San Diego U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller the government should pay $53.5 million in non-economic damages and $2.5 million for lost wages and economic loss at the close of a three-day trial Wednesday, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Don Yoon testified in court about his emotional distress at the death of his wife, Youngmi, his 15-month-old and 7-week-old daughters, Grace and Rachel, and mother-in-law, Seokim Lee, in the 2008 crash. He said he buried his wife and daughters in a casket together.
"Youngmi always took good care of them," he said to the judge. "So I wanted them to be together."
Panish said the family -- which includes Seokim's husband Sanghyun Lee and three adult children -- should receive $2.5 million for Youngmi and Seokim's lost wages. A government lawyer said that number should be closer to $1.2 million.
Panish argued the government is trying to get a "discount" on paying more because the family is from Korea.
