Jury Returns in Suit over Photos taken at Kobe Bryant’s Death Scene

Wednesday was August 24, but it wasn’t just another one of the dog days of summer. It’s designated, at least in Los Angeles, “Mamba/Kobe Bryant Day” to honor the late Lakers superstar player who left us too soon in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, which also took his daughter Gianna; his uniform numbers were 8 and 24.

Fans might also know that Tuesday would have been Kobe’s 44th birthday. Several of the late athlete’s loved ones commemorated him with bittersweet messages and flashback images on social media, including his sister Sharia Washington and his daughter Natalia, People reports. Vanessa , his widow, shared a post to her Instagram account, also wishing him a happy Birthday in Heaven:

“Happy birthday, baby! You are loved and missed so very much. #44 ,” Vanessa wrote as a caption accompanying the smiling photo of the pair. In the snap, Kobe is seen wearing a baseball hat and a 2009 NBA Championships T-shirt which his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, won.

It seems right then to share some good news with the family this week.

My California-based colleague Jim Thompson recently wrote an analysis of the suit filed by Vanessa Bryant (the widow of the NBA Hall of Famer) on behalf of his family. He summarised the suit here:

The world was informed that County employees took photos showing the wreckage and body parts at the crash site. These photos were then shared with Sheriff’s Deputies by other deputies. They were shown to bartenders and girls in bars as they showed the deputies. Once he saw the photos, the Sheriff ordered that all photos be deleted. There is currently no proof that the photos of cops exist.

Vanessa Bryant also learned of the photos and in September 2020, sued the Sheriff and LA county in federal court for emotional distress.

Now, there’s a decision from the jury in the case, according to the Associated Press:

Kobe Bryant’s widow was awarded $16 million as part of a $31 million jury verdict Wednesday against Los Angeles County for deputies and firefighters sharing grisly photos of the NBA star, his 13-year-old daughter and other victims killed in a 2020 helicopter crash.

The nine jurors unanimously agreed with Vanessa Bryant and her attorneys that the photos invaded her privacy and caused emotional distress. As it was read, she cried silently.

The AP noted that after the verdict, Vanessa returned to Instagram, writing to her late husband and daughter “Gigi,” next to a heartbreaking photo of the trio:

All for you! You are my best friend! JUSTICE FOR Gigi and Kobe! #Betonyourself #MambaDay 8*24*22 #MambaMentality