In the Bryant case they will be suing the estate, not the widow.
You can't expect any layman to fully understand the risks nor to understand the consequences and risks of what they may ask a pilot to do.
That responsibility sits upfront and with the operator.
From what we do know, it would appear they have the basis for a case but I don't understand what they will actually achieve, it can't be money.
Whether justified or not, lawyers will take every opportunity to litigate. The costs alone for defending a suit can bankrupt a defendant, so taking chances just isn't worth the risk.