Estate of late Savoura founder sues helicopter company in 2019 deadly Quebec crash

By Canadian Press on March 28, 2025.

MONTREAL — A United States helicopter company is facing a $50-million lawsuit in the 2019 crash that killed the founder of a Quebec greenhouse farming company and his teenage son.

The estate of Stéphane Roy, the late founder and ex-CEO of Savoura, has launched a lawsuit against Robinson Helicopter Company Inc. in Quebec Superior Court.

Robinson is the manufacturer of the R44 helicopter that crashed in Quebec in July 2019, killing Roy and his son Justin Roy Séguin, who were returning from a fishing trip.

The downed chopper was found in a wooded area near Lac Valtrie, Que., about 220 kilometres northwest of Montreal, 14 days after they were reported missing.

The lawsuit was initially filed in California in July 2021 but Robinson Helicopter sought to have the case moved to Quebec, a step that was affirmed in January 2025 by the California Court of Appeal.

Daniel Roy, brother of Stéphane Roy and executor of the estate, said in a statement today that the family is determined to uncover the complete truth behind the deaths.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 28, 2025.

The Canadian Press