Vanessa Bryant Settles With LA County For Nearly $30 Million Over Kobe Crash Photos
BIG update in the Kobe Bryant photo trial.
As you know, Vanessa Bryant has been battling Los Angeles County in court for the last six months after a 2020 helicopter crash killed her basketball legend husband and their 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. As a refresher, sheriff’s deputies who arrived at the site took disturbing photos of the scene of the crash, including the remains of Kobe and Gianna. The photos were then shared with complete strangers, “gawked” at, and reportedly leaked online.
Related: Vanessa’s Touching Valentine’s Day Tribute To Kobe: ‘Forever & Always’
Throughout the trial, the mother of four has claimed to be mentally “tormented” by the thought of her daughters and herself seeing the photos, and experiences panic attacks and anxiety “to this day” because of the situation. She noted in one testimony:
“For the rest of my life, one of two things will happen: either close-up photos of my husband’s and daughter’s bodies will go viral online, or I will continue to live in fear of that happening.”
As we reported back in August 2022, the 40-year-old was awarded $16 million by the ten jurors in the case, as well as $15 million to Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter were also killed in the crash. Now, Vanessa has settled her remaining claims, and is being issued another lump sum, totaling $28.85 million. In a Tuesday statement, the Bryant family lawyer, Luis Li revealed:
“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.”
Mira Hashmall, the lead trial counsel for Bryan and Chester in the case, added:
“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.”
Related: Chris Is ‘Fearful All The Time’ Of Gruesome Photos Leaking
We agree that we hope to see this sort of situation NEVER happen again. Losing your loved ones is traumatic enough, but to have first responders — individuals you’re supposed to be able to trust — treat the matter with SUCH a lack of dignity, is truly disgusting.
Our hearts continue to be with the Bryants, Chesters, and all the affected families and loved ones.
What are YOUR thoughts on the settlement, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments down below.
[Images via Brian To/MEGA/WENN]
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