Vanessa Bryant broke into tears after the jury ruled in her favor and granted her $16 million over disturbing photos taken by LA County emergency responders.
Bryant won her lawsuit against Los Angeles County after first responders “unlawfully” took pictures of her deceased husband, Kobe Bryant, and their daughter, Gianna, after the pair died in a 2020 helicopter crash in Calabasas.
Seeking $40 million for the emotional pain and suffering caused by the fear that the photos of her dead husband and daughter could emerge online at any time, Vanessa took the LA County to court along with co-defendant Chris Chester whose 45-year-old wife Sarah was one of the nine victims of the deadly crash.
While Bryant and Chester sought $1 million per year each until the rest of their lives – based on average life expectancy – they were granted $16 million and $15 million respectfully after the jury ruled that first responders unlawfully shared photos of their deceased relatives.
The jury concluded that the fire department lacks training and policies on the matter but insisted they don’t have a habit of sharing pictures of deceased people.
The sheriff’s office, however, has come under fire after it was concluded that the department has a history of sharing disturbing photos of deceased people who died in accidents.
According to the reports, the sheriff’s department was ordered to pay Bryant $2.5 million and $7.5 million for past and future suffering. The department has to pay a further $1.5 million and $7.5 million to Chester for past and future suffering.
Meanwhile, the fire department has to pay Bryant and Chester $1 million and $5 million for past and future suffering each.
Bryant and Chester’s legal win and the $31 million payout come after they refused to join families of other victims in a joint lawsuit against LA County.
The families of other victims were reportedly granted $2.5 million each in last year’s payout.
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