After filing a lawsuit against LA County for photos taken at the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash site, Vanessa Bryant, the widow of late NBA legend, has now been awarded a $28.85 million settlement.
RELATED: Vanessa Bryant Files Claim Over Release Of Kobe Bryant Crash Photos
Vanessa Bryant Awarded $28.85 Million In Lawsuit Against LA County Over Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash Photos
Following the tragic helicopter crash that killed Kobe and daughter Gianna Bryant — along with some of their close friends and Gianna’s basketball teammates — a few members from the LA Sheriff’s Department were busted taking and sharing photos of the crash site.
RELATED: Vanessa Bryant Sues The L.A. County Sheriff Over Leaked Photos Of Helicopter Crash Site
Several months after the crash, Vanessa filed her lawsuit, accusing the first responders of taking graphic photos of human remains as “souvenirs,” and sharing them with others.
Vanessa claimed that she, and others who survived the victims, suffered emotional distress over the negligent invasion of privacy.
In August 2022, a jury awards Vanessa $16 million in her invasion of privacy trial against LA County. And on Tuesday (February 28), she has now been awarded another $28.85 million over the crash site photos.
In addition, Vanessa’s co-plaintiff Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter were also killed in the tragic crash, settled for $19.95 million.
Vanessa’s attorney, Luis Li, had this to say after the victory: “Today marks the successful culmination of Mrs. Bryant’s courageous battle to hold accountable those who engaged in this grotesque conduct.
She fought for her husband, her daughter, and all those in the community whose deceased family were treated with similar disrespect. We hope her victory at trial and this settlement will put an end to this practice.”
Additionally, another attorney, Mira Hashmall, a partner over at the Miller Barondess law firm, who also served as the lead trial counsel for LA County in the Bryant-Chester case, released a statement.
Hashmall stated, “We believe the settlement approved by the Board in the Bryant case is fair and reasonable. The $28,850,000 settlement includes the verdict awarded by the federal jury in August 2022, and further resolves all outstanding issues related to pending legal claims in state court, future claims by the Bryant children, and other costs, with each party responsible for its respective attorneys’ fees.”
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