Clutha boss sues copter crash firm for £300k Cash claim over lost profits
Alan Crossan, 64, has been battling for five years for cash following the accident in Glasgow.
He has until November 29, the fifth anniversary of the Clutha disaster, to lodge the damages action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Under Scots law, accident victims have five years to lodge personal injury claims.
Crossan said he will delay any court action until next month to allow Babcock a chance to pay up.
He was given an initial sixfigure payout for refurbishing his damaged pub, which was shut for 20 months.
But he is still waiting on money from Babcock to cover lost revenue and profits while he was closed for business.
His action also includes lost takings while the pub was shut during the 2014 Commonwealth Games. It reopened in July 2015 in a ceremony attended by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Ten people died and 31 were hurt when a police helicopter crashed into the roof of The Clutha in 2013.
Crossan’s lawyers, Glasgowbased Raeside Chisholm, have been in negotiations with Babcock for almost five years over the compensation issue. Crossan said: “We’ve only been paid part of the settlement figure we asked for five years ago.
“Babcock have hired a heavy-duty firm of London lawyers.
“Time runs out for any legal claim at the end of next month on the anniversary. Court action has to go in before November 29. If we don’t, it is dead – and we do not want to lose all that money.”
In 2014, Crossan set up The Clutha Trust in the wake of the tragedy to help disadvantaged young people in the city.
He added: “Babcock aren’t even responding to requests for a meeting. They’re putting at risk the jobs and the future of The Clutha and people who work there.
“I’ve even been told not to go to the media as it would not be in my interests.
“I feel Babcock have been very hostile. It’s a constant battle with them.”
Last week, we revealed how Evelyn Mitchell, 59, the sister of Clutha pilot David Traill, is claiming £ 80,000 compensation over his death – even though she last saw him in 1991.
The Clutha FAI will begin at Hampden Park in April.
Babcock said: “We do not comment on individual cases.”
Raeside Chisholm did not respond to our request for a comment.
Babcock don’t even respond to requests for a meeting