Now owner of Neverland Ranch, renamed the Santa Ynez Valley Ranch, Ronald Burkle, has sued a Camarillo helicopter company for invasion of privacy after the publishing of areal pictures released in the press in March.
The lawsuit filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court names Remember LLC and Ronald W. Burkle as plaintiffs, and Orbic Helicopters Inc., Orbit Helicopters Sales and Service at Camarillo LLC as defendants, along with 10 unnamed individuals.
The complaint, filed April 19 by attorney Christopher Dacus from Glaser, Weil, Fink Howard Jordan and Shapiro LLP in Los Angeles, centers on pictures allegedly captured by a photographer in a helicopter flying over Sycamore Ranch at 5225 Figueroa Road near Los Olivos.
“Morbid curiosity about the changes to Sycamore Valley Ranch and Mr. Burkle’s private activities there, however, have led to dangerous, intrusive, and noisy flyovers by helicopters, including one or more helicopters owned and operated by defendants…” the civil complaint says.
A civil complaint represents one side of a case, and the defendants are expected to file a response in the coming weeks. Orbic was served the lawsuit on April 20, according to documents filed with the court.
“At least one flight by Orbic Helicopters descended below federally mandated flight level minimums, and was so close to the property that Mr. Burkle’s son was easily able to write down its tail number,” the civil complaint said.
“This type of unsafe flight behavior violates Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”)
requirements, is a nuisance to Mr. Burkle and his family, violates their right to privacy, and
constitutes a trespass under California law.
“Mr. Burkle and his family are entitled to the safe and private enjoyment of the property without being buzzed by circling helicopters motivated by the desire to take and sell photographs to tabloid newspapers.”
Burkle’s son was at the ranch “when a helicopter descended to a low altitude and began ‘buzzing’ certain structures,” on or around March 17, 2023.
Using the FAA’s registration website, the complaint contends the tail number pinpoints Orbic’s helicopter tour operation in Camarillo.
Photos of structures at the time of the flight were subsequently published in several newspapers, including The Sun newspaper versions in the United States and United Kingdom.
The lawsuit names four causes of action including nuisance, invasion of privacy, constructive trespass and injunctive relief.
The Burkles want a judge to order the defendant to comply with minimum flight height requirements and other restrictions.
They also want the court to ban the “defendants from photographing the property while it is being used for private purposes and requiring them to seek permission for any such photographic overflight to confirm that no member of Mr. Burkle’s family or his friends are using the property during such a flight.
Additionally, the lawsuit seeks more than $25,000 in general, actual, incidental, compensatory, and/or consequential damages along with costs and attorneys fees.
The case is scheduled to appear before Santa Maria Judge Jed Beebe on August 23.
