Travis Barker, who (along with DJ Adam ‘AM’ Goldstein) survived a fatal plane crash last September, has just launched a lawsuit against the parties that he blames for the crash. Filing paperwork L.A. County Superior Court, Barker’s lawsuit (which was joined by the mother of Charles ‘Che’ Still — one of the victims who died in the crash) is suing for “pain and suffering, mental anguish, psychological and emotional distress and disfigurement and pre-impact fear of death and burning”:

Travis Barker is suing Bombardier Inc., Clay Lacy Aviation and Goodyear Tire and Rubber in connection with the plane crash that severely injured him and killed two of his friends. The suit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, was filed by Barker and the mother of Charles “Che” Still, Travis’ bodyguard who died in the crash. In the lawsuit, Travis and Thelma Martin Still claim “one or more of the tires failed leaving tire debris and portions of airplane components along the 8,600 foot runway” ultimately causing the Learjet to crash. The suit alleges a “negligent attempt to abort the takeoff.” The suit continues, “The pilot’s decision was a breach of their duty owed to the passengers onboard and was a substantial factor in causing the crash and resultant injuries and deaths.” The suit also alleges the plane was “defective,” as were component parts including the tires. The suit goes on, “It’s landing gear, tires, wheels, brakes, reverse thrust system, squat switches and component parts were not airworthy.” A rep for Clay Lacy just told TMZ, “We are surprised about the lawsuit and concerned and knowledgeable about the accident. We are sympathetic for the victims but we want to emphasize we were not operating this airplane. This was not our airplane. We merely assisted the parties in chartering this aircraft with another company. We simply booked it for them.”

People magazine has more information on the language included in the suit:

The L.A. Superior Court lawsuit, also filed Friday by the mother of Barker’s bodyguard, Charles “Che” Still, who died in the crash, alleges the pilots “negligently decided to abort” the takeoff when the Learjet’s tires failed in September at an airport in Columbia, S.C. “The pilots were either poorly trained and/or failed to follow their training,” the suit says. “The pilots’ decision was a breach of their duty owed to the passengers onboard and was a substantial factor in causing the crash and resultant injuries and deaths” … Federal aviation officials are focusing on bare tires and debris on the runway as the causes of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board says the wheels had very little rubber remaining and its brakes were severely damaged. The lawsuit names as defendants Clay Lacy Aviation, Global Executive Aviation, Inter Travel and Services, Goodyear Tire and Rubber and Bombardier Inc.

I suppose this legal action was to be expected. After the healing comes the retribution. I wholeheartedly agree that the parties at fault have to be held responsible for causing the deaths of four people. I understand that suits like this also go a long way in helping with the healing process of accident victims who survive traumatic experiences like this. I cannot for the life of me imagine what it must feel like to deal with any of this tragedy … my only hope is that Travis, AM and the family members of those lost in the accident will, one day, be able to finally put this whole incident behind them. It remains to be seen if this lawsuit will help bring closure but it’s prolly a very good place to start.

[Source, Source]

Travis Barker stepped out on the town in Malibu, CA last night to celebrate his 33rd birthday with his children Alabama Luella and Landon Asher (as well as his ex-wife Shanna Moakler) at Nobu. Here are a few pics of Travis and his sleepy son Landon making their way out of the restaurant at the end of the night:

This birthday was prolly especially poignant for Travis considering that he almost lost his life in a tragic small plane accident that claimed the lives of four people in South Carolina back in September. I would imagine that Travis is very happy to be celebrating another year of life with the children that he loves so much. I, for the life of me, cannot understand what it must feel like to survive a deadly plane crash but I do know that I am thrilled beyond words that Travis is not only able to see another birthday but is able to do so looking so well after recovering from his injuries. Happy, happy birthday, Travis … may you enjoy many more birthdays to come.

[Photo credit: X17]

Yesterday we got to see new photos of DJ Adam AM Goldstein back to work at his weekly DJ gig in Las Vegas, NV and today we get to see new photos of Travis Barker out and about spending time with his daughter Alabama Luella. You may recall that both men survived a deadly plane crash in South Carolina last month and each underwent extensive surgeries in their recovery processes. It’s a happy day seeing these new pics of Travis back on his feet and lookin’ so well so soon after his tragic accident:

I still find it very amazing that not only are both DJ AM and Travis Barker already out of the hospital but that they are both back up and around as well! Yesterday we saw pics of AM back to doing what he loves to do and today we get to see Travis enjoying time with someone that he loves so much. I am just thrilled that both men are doing so well. I wish them both a quick road to full recovery … heal well, guys!

[Photo credit: INFdaily]

In the wake of the miraculous survival of Travis Barker (and DJ AM) from a fiery plane crash that claimed the lives of four people, there was much discussion about ex-wife Shanna Moakler’s undying devotion to her injured ex-husband. There were reports that Shanna vowed to “not leave” Travis Barker’s side and that she was “totally devoted” to him. Travis, himself, has taken to his official My Space profile blog to refute those claims just days before Shanna was photographed putting the moves on actor Gerard Butler at Shin nightclub:

New couple alert? Shanna Moakler and Gerard Butler were photographed getting cozy at the Hollywood opening of Shin nightclub on Monday. Throughout the night, Butler also served guests drinks behind the bar. At one point, a patron told him, “Thanks,” and he said, “I have no idea what the fuck I’m doing.” Both did not talk to press.

But Travis Barker is talking, specifically about the fact that his ex-wife was not keeping vigil by his side while he recuperated from his injuries as has been widely reported:

Travis Barker may be in the hospital – but he’s got a bone to pick with his ex-wife. The Blink-182 drummer expressed his “deepest thanks” to fans via his MySpace page for their support during his recovery from a deadly plane crash in September. But the 32-year-old also took a brief time-out to jab at ex-wife Shanna Moakler, who reportedly has been by his side since the ordeal. “Despite any rumors you might have heard via my EX-wife Shanna Moakler, who I have not seen since the week I checked in, I’ve been treated amazingly well, both here in LA and an Georgia,” Barker wrote … Moakler was photographed in tears – and oddly wearing a ring on that special finger – outside Barker’s Augusta, Ga., hospital on Sept. 22 … Barker, who says he’s now able to move his fingers on his right hand, later deleted the diss from his MySpace Celebrity blog, but left the message up on his actual MySpace page.

You know, I’ve never been a big Shanna Moakler fan and this sorta seals the deal for me. There was never any expectation that Shanna should be faithfully by Travis’s side in the wake of his accident but I was impressed that she was there … at least, that was what we were led to believe. I recall seeing photos of Shanna flashing her ring and I thought, how nice that she is there and still seems devoted to him. Hearing from Travis himself that it was all a sham, most likely to make her look better, is pretty disgusting to me. Why in the world would she choose to exploit such a horrible tragedy just to make herself look good? Seeing these new photos of Shanna trying to mack on Gerard Butler really shows how her “devotion” to Travis seems to have waned … if it existed at all. I am very heartened to hear from Travis that he is doing better and is recovering well. I don’t think I need to hear anything from or about Shanna Moakler ever again.

[Photo credit: INFdaily; Source, Source]

Great news to report today after the awful news yesterday … Doctors expect that both Travis Barker and Adam DJ AM Goldstein, who were the sole survivors of a tragic plane crash yesterday, will recover fully from their injuries. I cannot tell you how amazingly good this news is! Here is a pic of Travis and AM on stage performing a live concert in Columbia, SC just a few hours before their fateful crash on Friday night:

There is promising long-range news in the medical condition of air-tragedy victims Travis Barker and DJ AM. The medical director of the Georgia burn center where the two are being treated after their escape from a fiery plane crash around midnight Friday said Sunday morning that both critically injured men are expected to make full recoveries. Dr. Fred Mullins of the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors’ Hospital in Augusta said at a press conference that former Blink 182 drummer Barker, 32, and DJ Am (real name: Adam Goldstein), 35, are being treated for second- and third-degree burns. Mullins says recovery from such burns can take as long as a year but says that the men suffered no other injuries, adding: “Since both Barker and Goldstein are in overall good health and didn’t suffer from any other crash-related complications, a full recovery is expected.” As for a timeline, though he said recovery could require a year, Mullins also noted, “I would expect it would be much sooner than that.” Mullins says Barker was burned on his torso and lower body, while DJ AM, was burned on his arms and a portion of his head. The doctor described both as remaining in critical but stable condition and in the intensive-care unit of the hospital. Regarding their emotional state, he declined to discuss specifics, but said of burn victims that “45 percent of all patients have some emotional trouble.”

While I am heartened by the news that the guys are expected to “fully recover”, I am concerned about their long-term healing process, tho. A year is a long time to endure a recovery regimen … I hope they both know that they’ve got a lot of people supporting them in their time of need. I am extremely thankful that the news isn’t worse … I look forward to the day when both men are able to be back on stage, doing the thing that they love most — performing.

I must mention how pretty disgusted I am with the way TMZ has been handing some of their reporting on this tragic accident. Last night, they posted a “tragic twist” tale on their site claiming that the reason a chartered private plane was used on Friday night was so that one of the deceased passengers, Travis’s assistant Chris Baker, could fly home to be with his wife who was “in labor” giving birth to their child:

Travis Barker’s assistant wanted to get home in time for his pregnant wife to give birth. We’ve now learned why Barker and his friends decided to get on that doomed lear jet in South Carolina late last night, and the explanation can only be described as a horribly cruel twist of fate. It all started some time yesterday, when Barker’s assistant, Chris Baker, told the guys that his wife was going into labor. Barker told him that he would do everything in his power to get Baker back to the hospital in time. The quickest way back to Van Nuys was that lear jet. We’re told Barker usually won’t fly on private jets, but made an exception for what was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of Baker’s life. The plane crashed shortly after midnight, killing four people — including Chris Baker. Baker’s wife went into labor early this morning.

This report was immediately refuted as a complete fabrication. Baker’s wife was not in labor … but I’m really bothered by the fact that TMZ decided to post the story anyways — even if true, what good reason did they have to exploit this “tragic” development? The story has been removed from TMZ’s website but I gotta say that I am really grossed out that they would even decide to post such a story in the first place.

[Source, Source]

Sad news to report today … last night, just before midnight, a small Lear jet carrying Travis Barker and DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) crashed in Columbia, South Carolina just after take-off killing four of the six passengers on board. Thankfully (and quite miraculously), both Travis and Adam survived the crash, tho each remains in critical condition at the Augusta Burn Center:

Officials with the Columbia Metropolitan Airport say a small jet has crashed killing four. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen says the plane carrying six people was departing shortly before midnight Friday when air traffic controllers reported seeing sparks. She says the plane went off the runway and crashed on a nearby road. Federal officials say two crew members and two passengers have been killed. Lexington County Coroner Harry Harman has identified three of the victims. Harman says the pilot Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim Hills, CA co-pilot James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, CA and Chris Baker, 29, of Studio City, CA all perished in the crash. Officials say two people have survived the crash and have been carried to the Augusta Burn Center. Officials at the Augusta Burn Center say they have Travis Barker, the former drummer from the band Blink-182, and Adam Michael Goldstein, aka DJ AM. Both are in critical condition. Barker and Goldstein were in Columbia Friday night for a concert at Five Points. William Owens was driving down Highway 302 when he said he saw a fireball go across the road. “I didn’t know what I had seen — it was maybe 800 feet in front of me, but as I approached it closer though I made out a fire. By then I was able to see the tail of the jet and I recognized it as a jet,” Owens said. Owens then described what he saw as he tried to make it to the wreckage. “It’s in flames and the fuel is running across the road and I had to cross the fuel to get to the two guys that seemed to have been dumped on the highway,” Owens said. Owens said the two men were running around and stripping down to extinguish themselves. He then asked the men if there was anyone else on board the plane and they said four more were with them. “We turned to the jet to try and see if there was anything we could do, but immediately, there was nothing anyone could do,” Owens said. The Five Points Association has released a statement saying that they are “deeply saddened by this event and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s and their families.”

This is absolutely stunning … I am quite shocked and relieved that both Travis and Adam managed to make it out of the wreckage alive. My thoughts go out to the families of the other passengers on board this plane who weren’t so lucky. Wow. I really don’t know what else to say. It is my sincere hope that both men are able to recover fully from their injuries … let’s keep them both in our thoughts as they possibly begin a very long recovery process.

UPDATE: TMZ reports that Travis Barker suffered severe burns from the waist down and is expected to survive, DJ AM’s face was severely burned. Sadly, one of the passengers who died in this plane crash was Travis’s assistant Chris Baker … newly married and the father of a new baby :(

[Source, thanks Trish]