Los Angeles authorities awarded Vanessa Bryant, Kobe Bryant’s widow, nearly $29 million on Tuesday to compensate her after photos of the NBA star’s body were taken at the scene of the accident. helicopter in which he died.
Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people were killed on January 26, 2020 when their helicopter crashed on a hill near Los Angeles. Police and firefighters had taken photos at the scene, including images of the mutilated bodies of the Los Angeles Lakers legend and his daughter. Some had then shown or sent photos to relatives or friends.
Already $15 million collected in August 2022
Vanessa Bryant, the star’s widow, had filed a lawsuit for emotional damages, fearing that these images could one day surface on the Internet. Los Angeles County agreed on Tuesday to grant him 28.85 million dollars (just over 27 million euros) to settle all disputes related to the accident. This sum includes $ 15 million already awarded to Vanessa Bryant by a Los Angeles court in August 2022 for the same reason.
“Today marks the success of Ms. Bryant’s courageous battle,” her attorney Luis Li said in a statement quoted by US media. “She fought for her husband, her daughter and all those whose deceased family members were treated with the same disrespect. We hope that this victory in court and this settlement will put an end to this practice,” the lawyer said.