On August 24, 2022, a federal jury came to the conclusion that Los Angeles County must pony up on $16 million for the emotional distress caused to Vanessa Bryant. The lawsuit was pursued as a result of emergency services sharing crash site photos of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and their daughter Gianna following the 2020 helicopter crash.
Vanessa Bryant Wins $16 Million in Suit Against Los Angeles County for Sharing Death Photos of Kobe Bryant and Daughter Gianna
It took the jury four-and-a-half hours to reach their verdict. In court, Vanessa Bryant wept as the verdict was read. Lawyers representing Los Angeles County took a powder as far as answering the media’s questions on the decision.
The trial lasted 11 days where it detailed how employees within Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as well as the fire and rescue services casually shared the death photos from the crash—even among people who don’t work in law enforcement or emergency services.
During her testimony, Mrs. Bryant said “I live in fear every day of being on social media and these popping up. I live in fear of my daughters being on social media and these popping up.” It’s a very real fear as somehow accident and crime scene photos have a way of popping up on different sites and image boards.
At the moment, the photos haven’t been made public which has to be a relief for her and their children. Chris Chester, Bryant’s co-plaintiff in the case, was awarded $15 million. He lost his wife and daughter in the same crash that killed nine on January 26, 2020.
The verdict comes one day after what would’ve been The Black Mamba’s 44th birthday.
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