Vanessa Bryant, widow of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, has secured a staggering $28 million settlement from the Los Angeles County authorities for the wrongful taking and sharing of graphic photos of her husband’s helicopter crash, according to CNN. The L.A. County Sheriff’s and Fire departments were found to have violated the constitutional rights of not only Bryant, but also Christopher Chester, husband of one of the crash victims. The photos in question were said to depict gruesome, up-close images of the nine deceased individuals, whose bodies were mangled and beyond recognition. The violation of the plaintiffs’ rights was ruled upon by a court in August 2022.
The photos depicted gruesome, up-close images of the nine deceased individuals, whose bodies were mangled and beyond recognition
Vanessa Bryant, widow of basketball legend Kobe Bryant, has reached a substantial settlement of over $28 million with Los Angeles County authorities regarding graphic photos taken of the helicopter crash that killed her husband and eight others. According to CNN, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s and Fire departments were held responsible for violating the privacy rights of Bryant and Christopher Chester, who lost his wife in the same accident.
The photos, which displayed detailed images of mangled corpses, were found to have caused emotional distress to Bryant and Chester. Although the county argued that the photos had been destroyed, Bryant testified to suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. The settlement includes the original damages of $31 million, as well as additional compensation to resolve any future legal claims against the county.
Vanessa Bryant, widow of the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant, has reached a settlement of over $28 million with Los Angeles County authorities over graphic photos of the helicopter crash that killed her husband and eight others. CNN reports that the settlement includes the initial damages of $15 million each for Bryant and another victim’s spouse, Christopher Chester, as well as funds to settle any future legal claims against the county.
In August 2022, a federal jury found the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s and Fire departments liable for violating the rights of Bryant and Chester by taking and sharing graphic photos of the crash that showed detailed images of mangled corpses. During the 11-day trial, witnesses revealed that the photos were shown to people in multiple questionable circumstances, including being shared over a video game and shown at a bar.
Both Bryant and Chester testified that the photos caused emotional distress and violated their privacy. The county insisted that the photos had since been destroyed. The settlement was announced by Mira Hashmall, lead trial counsel for Los Angeles County, who stated that it “resolves all outstanding issues related to pending legal claims in state court, future claims by the Bryant children, and other costs.”
Vanessa Bryant’s settlement of over $28 million over the unauthorized distribution of graphic photos of her husband’s helicopter crash by Los Angeles County authorities has been hailed as a “victory” by her attorney, Luis Li. Speaking to CNN, Li praised Bryant’s “courageous battle to hold accountable those who engaged in this grotesque conduct” and expressed hope that her triumph would put an end to such practices. “She fought for her husband, her daughter, and all those in the community whose deceased family were treated with similar disrespect,” he said.
