Los Angeles County has agreed to pay Vanessa Bryant Three of her daughters and she paid nearly $30 Million to settle a suit and possible claims regarding the sharing graphic photos from the January 2020 helicopter accident that claimed the lives of three people. Bryant’s husband, the basketball star Kobe BryantA court filing from Tuesday said that the settlement included $15 million for a father and daughter. Settlement includes $15 Million awarded by a jury Vanessa Bryant In August with extra funds to settle any claims made by her daughters.
“Today marks the successful culmination of Mrs. Bryant’s courageous battle to hold accountable those who engaged in this grotesque conduct,” Luis Li Bryant’s lawyer, said in a statement. “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.”
Kobe was established on January 26, 2020. BryantGianna, 41 years old, and her father, Jacques BryantThe 13 year old and seven other passengers were on a helicopter that crashed outside Los Angeles in foggy weather, killing everyone aboard. Soon after, Vanessa Bryant learned that some employees of the county’s fire and sheriff’s departments had shared graphic photos of human remains from the crash. She was sued for negligence and invasion of privacy in September 2020 and won at trial in August, providing a rare and expensive public admonition of some of Los Angeles’ most powerful institutions.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved to pay Bryant’s family $28.85 million to settle Bryant’s lawsuit and potential future claims by Bryant And her daughters: Natalia (20), Bianka (6), and Capri (3). In August, the jury awarded Bryant $16million, but it was reduced to $1 million by a clerical error.
Mira Hashmall was the trial lead counsel and made a statement. for Los Angeles County Bryant’s case, called the settlement “fair and reasonable” And that all County-related litigation related to the crash was resolved.
“We hope Ms. Bryant and her children continue to heal from their loss,” Hashmall spoke.
Kobe BryantStarring:. for Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years before retiring in 2016, was on his way to coach Gianna’s basketball team at his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif., when they boarded the helicopter on the day of the crash. Ara Zobayan (pilot) became disoriented and the helicopter crashed on a hill in Calabasas. The nine passengers were all killed.
In a deposition for her lawsuit, Vanessa Bryant said Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ general manager and Kobe Bryant’s former agent, drove her later that morning to a sheriff’s station in Malibu, near the crash scene.
Alex Villanueva (the Los Angeles County sheriff of the time) confirmed the deaths. Bryant He could do almost anything if given the chance. for Her, she stated.
“And I said: ‘If you can’t bring my husband and baby back, please make sure that no one takes photographs of them. Please secure the area,’” Bryant During the deposition. “And he said: ‘I will.’ And I said: ‘No, I need you to get on the phone right now and I need you to make sure you secure the area.’”
Bryant At trial, she testified that her learning came from a Los Angeles Times report that a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy had showed photos of the crash at a bar. They were not aware of their existence. Bryant This added to the tragedy.
“I live in fear of my daughters being on social media and these popping up,” Bryant testified.
The pictures were primarily shared between employees of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s and fire departments.
Lawyers for Although the county accepted that the photos were taken and shared by others, they argued that an order was issued to immediately delete the images so that they could not be publicly distributed.
The jury awarded Chris Chester $15 million after he joined the lawsuit because Sarah Chester (45) and Payton (12), were both killed in the accident. Los Angeles County offered to pay $4.95million to the Chester family to settle any future claims.
Over the images, two other families settled separately with the county. for In October 2021 each one will be $1.25million
Li said previously that Bryant would donate the proceeds from the lawsuit to her Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, which honors Kobe and Gianna Bryant.
