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Vanessa Bryant next to Michael Jordan (Reuters)
On January 26, 2020, the basketball world was stunned with the report that Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. After their deaths, his wife, Vanessa Bryant, filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County alleging that photos of Kobe and her daughter were circulated after the crash.
On August 24, the lawsuit ended and the jury determined that the county sheriff’s department (LASD) and the fire department (LAFD) did distribute the photos and thus invaded the family’s privacy. According to the determination, Vanessa received 15 million dollars, but her demand did not end here and today (Wednesday) the final settlement was signed.
Vanessa Bryant ended up receiving nearly $29 million from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “Today marks Mrs. Bryant’s successful fight against anyone who chose to behave in a distorted manner,” Bryant’s lawyer said in a statement to People magazine. Louis Lee And added: “She fought for her husband, her daughter and everyone who was hurt by the lack of respect. We hope that her victory in the trial will put an end to any similar behavior.”
Just in: Vanessa Bryant has settled her remaining claims against Los Angeles County over the misuse of photos from the helicopter crash that killed Kobe and Gianna. She and Kobe’s two youngest daughters, Capri and Bianka, will be added as plaintiffs to finalize the deal. pic.twitter.com/gUjcDqBtsS
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) March 1, 2023
The final settlement amount includes the $15 million Vanessa already paid in August. Also, a co-lawyer, Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter were also killed in the accident, received almost $20 million.
