Vanessa and Kobe Bryant in 2018. Panoramic.
Fearing that photos of Kobe Bryant’s remains, taken by law enforcement, would one day surface on the Internet, Vanessa Bryant filed a lawsuit for emotional damages.
Los Angeles authorities on Tuesday granted 29 million dollars (27.2 million euros) to Vanessa Bryant, widow of Kobe Bryant, to compensate her after photos of the body of the NBA star were taken on the scene of the helicopter crash in which he died.
On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people were killed 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.
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 on Tuesday agreed to award him $28.85 million to settle all lawsuits related to the crash.
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“, said his lawyer Luis Li, in a press release quoted by the American media. “She fought for her husband, her daughter and all those whose deceased family members were treated with the same disrespect. We hope this court victory and settlement will put an end to this practice.“said the lawyer.