Vanessa Bryant, the wife of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, took to Instagram to celebrate the ruling in the case involving photos of her husband that were taken after a 2020 helicopter crash.
On Wednesday, The New York Times reported that a jury awarded Vanessa Bryant $16 million after she filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County.
The basketball star was killed along with the couple’s daughter, Gianna, after their helicopter crashed into a hill near Calabasas, California.
Seven others also lost their lives.
The Times explained in Vanessa Bryant’s lawsuit, she claims that “Los Angeles County firefighters and sheriff’s deputies were allowed to take unnecessary close-up photos of human remains around the site, including the bodies of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, and the photos were then shared among sheriff’s deputies and firefighters.”
The lawsuit also accuses the county of negligence and of violating Vanessa Bryant’s constitutional right to privacy, as the Times reported.
She posted on Instagram after the ruling, saying, “All for you! I love you! JUSTICE for Kobe and Gigi.”
The post continues, “[Bet On Yourself] [Mamba day] [Mamba mentality].”
Her message included a photo of herself along with her late husband and daughter.
Check out the post below:
"All for you! I love you! JUSTICE for Kobe and Gigi!"
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 25, 2022
Vanessa Bryant on IG after winning her lawsuit against LA County on Mamba Day 8/24 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/dxpPYVFD5F
A man named Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter were also killed in the crash, was awarded $15 million.
County attorney Mira Hashmall issued a statement following the verdict.
“While we disagree with the jury’s findings as to the County’s liability, we believe the monetary award shows that jurors didn’t believe the evidence supported the Plaintiffs’ request of $75 million for emotional distress,” Hashmall said.
The statement continues, “We will be discussing next steps with our client. Meanwhile, we hope the Bryant and Chester families continue to heal from their tragic loss.”
Vanessa Bryant initially filed the lawsuit against the county in September 2020.
