A federal jury found on Wednesday that Los Angeles County must pay Kobe Bryant’s widow $16 million over photos of the NBA star’s body at the site of the 2020 helicopter crash in which he died.
The nine jurors who returned the unanimous verdict agreed with Vanessa Bryant and her lawyers that police and firefighters taking and sharing photos of the remains of Kobe Bryant and their daughter Gianna, 13, invaded her privacy and brought her emotional distress.
The jury deliberated for 4 and a half hours before reaching the verdict. Ms Bryant wept quietly as it was read out.
The pictures were shared mostly between employees of the LA County sheriff’s and fire departments including by some who were playing video games and attending an awards banquet.
They were also seen by some of their spouses and in one case by a bartender who was serving a deputy.
Ms Bryant tearfully testified during the 11-day trial that news of the photos compounded her grief a month after losing her husband and daughter, and that she still has panic attacks at the thought that they might still be out there.
“I live in fear every day of being on social media and these popping up,” she testified. “I live in fear of my daughters being on social media and these popping up.”
Her co-plaintiff Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter were also among the nine people killed in the crash, was awarded $15m.
Ms Bryant’s lawyer Luis Li told jurors that the close-up photos had no official or investigative purpose, and were mere “visual gossip” shared out of a gruesome curiosity.
County lawyer Mira Hashmall said during the trial that the photos were a necessary tool for assessing the situation.
Ms Hashmall acknowledged that they should not have been shared with everyone who saw them.
But she said the photos had never appeared publicly, and had never even been seen by the plaintiffs.
She said that meant that Sheriff Alex Villanueva and other officials had taken decisive and effective action when they ordered those who had the photos to delete them.
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Vanessa Laine Bryant is seen on a screen during a public memorial for NBA great Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others killed in a helicopter crash on January 26, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2020. REUTERS -
NBA legend Michael Jordan sheds tears during the memorial to celebrate the life of Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant at Staples Center. Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports -
Shaquille O'Neal speaks during The Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on February 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images/AFP -
Jay-Z departs after The Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on February 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images/AFP -
Kobe's teammate Shaquille O'Neal speaks to the audience during the memorial to celebrate the life of Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant at Staples Center. USA TODAY Sports -
Vanessa Bryant, wife of Kobe Bryant speaks about her husband, Kobe and daughter, Gianna at NBA Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna's memorial service 'A Celebration of Life: Kobe and Gianna Bryant' at Staple Center in Los Angeles, California, USA, February 24, 2020. EPA/ETIENNE LAURENT -
US singer Christina Aguilera performs during the "Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26. AFP -
Fans gather around a mural of late NBA great Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant during a public memorial for them and seven others killed in a helicopter crash, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2020. REUTERS -
Fans gather around LA Live during the public memorial for NBA great Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others killed in a helicopter crash, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2020. REUTERS -
A 24 x 24 foot stage, adorned in red roses, awaits those performers and speakers during the memorial to celebrate the life of Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant at Staples Center. USA TODAY Sports -
Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa Bryant speaks during the "Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. AFP -
Fans and merchants gather around L.A. Live during the public memorial for NBA great Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others killed in a helicopter crash, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2020. REUTERS -
Kobe Bryant's Lakers jerseys are displayed during the "Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26. AFP -
Fans gather around a mural of late NBA great Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant during a public memorial for them and seven others killed in a helicopter crash, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2020. REUTERS -
A mural of late NBA great Kobe Bryant is pictured during the public memorial for him, his daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others killed in a helicopter crash, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2020. REUTERS
Bryant, the former LA Lakers star, five-time NBA champion and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, was travelling with Gianna and seven others to a youth basketball game when the helicopter they were aboard crashed into hills in Calabasas, west of Los Angeles, on January 26, 2020.
Federal safety officials blamed pilot error for the crash.
