An emotional Vanessa Bryant has spoken out after being awarded $16 million in her trial against Los Angeles County.
On Wednesday, a federal jury gave its verdict after first responders snapped and shared grisly photos of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed Vanessa’s husband, Kobe Bryant, their 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others.
The panel of nine jurors agreed that deputies and firefighters invaded the privacy of the NBA star’s widow and brought her emotional distress by taking photos of the remains of the LA Lakers hero and his daughter.
Vanessa Bryant called the lawsuit verdict “JUSTICE for Kobe and Gigi.” PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Los Angeles County must pay $16 million in damages to Vanessa Bryant. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Vanessa Bryant is still afraid of photos “popping up” from the fatal helicopter crash in 2020. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File
Vanessa Bryant posted a photo of her late husband, Kobe Bryant, and daughter Gianna on Instagram. Instagram / Vanessa BryantHours after the verdict, Vanessa rushed to social media to celebrate the ruling.
“All for you! I love you! JUSTICE for Kobe and Gigi,” the 40-year-old wrote on Instagram alongside a snap of herself with her late husband and daughter.
“#BetOnYourself #Mambaday #Mambamentality,” added Vanessa, who is also mom to daughters Natalia, 19, Bianka, 5, and 3-year-old Capri.
Vanessa wept quietly as the verdict was read following 4½ hours of jury deliberation, and walked out of court holding Natalia’s hand.
The jurors also awarded $15 million to plaintiff Chris Chester, who lost his wife, Sarah, and daughter Payton in the Calabasas, California, wreck.
Jurors unanimously found that the LA County Sheriff’s Department violated the constitutional rights of Bryant and Chester when it failed to train its employees on accident scene picture-sharing protocol.
Bryant’s attorney Luis Li told the jury the photos were “not public and not [for] deputies to share.”
Vanessa Bryant accused the LA County Sheriff’s Department of taking and sharing photos of Kobe and Gigi’s bodies at the scene of the fatal helicopter crash. James Anderson/National Transportation Safety Board via AP, File
Vanessa Bryant holds hands with her daughter Natalia Bryant (left) and close friend Sydney Leroux (right) while leaving the courthouse in Los Angeles. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty ImagesThe pictures were shared mostly between employees of the LA County sheriff’s and fire departments and seen by some of their spouses.
The photos had not been made public, but Bryant testified that the prospect of the images being leaked filled her with fear and anxiety.
“I live in fear every day of being on social media and these popping up,” she testified last week. “I live in fear of my daughters being on social media and these popping up.”
