Florida family sues NASA for space debris damage

Alejandro Otero, the homeowner, claimed that his son, Daniel, called him about the crashing object while he was on vacation. “I was shaking. I was completely in disbelief. What are the chances of something landing on my house with such force to cause so much damage,” Otero told CBS Fort Myers affiliate WINK-TV.

Otero claimed that the object almost hit his son, who was two rooms over, reported The Guardian. “I’m super grateful that nobody got hurt,” he said.

The debris, weighing 1.6 pounds and measuring about 4 by 1.6 inches, was confirmed by NASA to be part of its flight support equipment, as per reports by The Guardian and CBS.

Now the Otero family, represented by the law firm Cranfill Sumner, has filed a claim against NASA. They are seeking compensation for non-insured property damage, business interruption, emotional and mental anguish, and the cost of assistance from third-party agencies.

According to The Guardian, Attorney Mica Nguyen Worthy stated that her clients are seeking adequate compensation to account for the stress and impact of the event on their lives.

Worthy noted that the US government, through NASA, has an opportunity to set a standard for responsible and safe space operations, as per Cranfill Sumner.

Now, under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), NASA will have six months to respond to the claims. 

Meanwhile, Cranfill Sumner also reported that Worthy has engaged with other space law experts in the community, discussing recent incidents involving space debris and its legal implications.