Kobe Bryant's Remains - Vanessa Bryant Lawsuit Against LA County Sheriff's Department For Invasion Of Privacy
A lawyer for Kobe Bryant's widow told a jury on Wednesday that deputies and firefighters in Los Angeles County had a "culture of callousness" that led them to take photos of the bodies of Kobe Bryant and other victims of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, and seven other people.
Author:Alex MercerReviewer:Nathanial BlackwoodAug 15, 20223 Shares425 Views
A court has heard that Los Angeles county deputies and firefighters shared photos of the dead bodies, including Kobe Bryant's remains, to make people laugh.
In January 2020, the sad car accident that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant happened in the Calabasas hills west of Los Angeles.
After a deputy and firefighter who came to the scene are said to have leaked photos from the crash site, the basketball star's 40-year-old widow, Vanessa, sued the LA County Sheriff's Department in federal court for invasion of privacy.
The LA County Sheriff's Department was the target of the lawsuit.
The lawyer for Bryant, Luis Li, said that the cell phone pictures that a deputy and a fire captain took at the scene of the accident were just "visual gossip" that was looked at "for a laugh" and had no official purpose.
LA County Sheriff's Department Shared Kobe Bryant's Remains "For A Laugh"
Vanessa Bryant's lawsuit against LA County begins over Kobe Bryant crash photos
In his opening statement to the jury in Vanessa Bryant's case against the county for invading her privacy, the lawyer said.
Her lawyer, Luis Li, told the jury in the United States District Court that the cellphone photos taken at the scene of the crash by a deputy and a fire captain were "visual gossip" that were looked at "for a laugh" and had no official purpose.
"Deputies who were playing video games shared them," Li said. "They were sent over and over again to people who had no reason to get them.
“„"They were shared by deputies playing video games," Li said. "They were shared repeatedly with people who had absolutely no reason to receive them."
At the messy, dangerous, and hard-to-reach crash scene in the Calabasas hills west of Los Angeles, an attorney for the county defended the taking of photos as an important way for first responders to share information when they thought they could still save lives.
The lawyer said that the photos were an important way for first responders to share information when they still thought they could save lives.
“„"January 26, 2020, was Vanessa Bryant's worst day ever. "It got a lot worse because of the county," Li said. "They put salt on a wound that was already open and rubbed it in."
Li showed the jury a security tape of a sheriff's deputy drinking at a pub when he wasn't on duty and showing the images to the bartender, who looked shocked by what he saw.
The lawyer then showed a photo of the two of them laughing together at a later time.
Two weeks later, at an awards luncheon, Li showed the judges an interactive chart that showed how the phone images had spread to nearly 30 people after they heard that firefighters had looked at the photos on their phones.
Li says that Vanessa Bryant "will always be haunted by what they did" because the county didn't do a thorough enough investigation to make sure that every copy of the photo was found.
Because she is afraid that the photos will turn up again and that her children who are still alive will see them online.
Vanessa Bryant Cries In Court
At the chaotic, risky, and difficult-to-reach crash scene in the Calabasas hills west of Los Angeles, an attorney for the county stated that the photos were necessary for first responders to share information when they thought they could still save lives.
The attorney added that the photos were needed for this purpose.
Vanessa Bryant cried a lot when her lawyer talked about the case.
She was still wiping tears from her eyes when she took a break a few minutes later.
Chris Chester, whose wife Sara and daughter Payton were also killed in the crash, is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit, which wants an unspecified amount of money.
Two families whose loved ones died in the crash on January 26, 2020, have already settled a similar case with the county for $2.5 million.
Bryant and Chester said no to the settlement offer.
On the way to a girls' basketball tournament, Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and other parents and players were on a chartered helicopter that crashed in the fog.
Federal safety officials said that the pilot made a mistake that led to the crash.
Conclusion
Hashmall told the jury that Li had the video of the bartender to show because the Sheriff's Department got it the same day they got a complaint from another customer who saw the photo sharing.
She said that the video was changed to make it look like the men were talking about photos of Kobe Bryant's ashes, and she sent it to her friends to make them laugh.
She said the deputy was having a hard time on an emotional level because the crash scene was so hard to deal with.
She also said that the bartender had known the deputies with whom he was talking for a long time.
The lawyer for the defense asked the jury to think about the case at hand instead of the pain of the people who brought the lawsuit.
Alex Mercer
Author
Alex Mercer is a seasoned author and analyst specializing in wealth research, with a keen focus on evaluating the net worth of individuals across various industries. With over a decade of experience in financial analysis and wealth assessment, Alex has developed a nuanced understanding of the factors that contribute to an individual's financial status, from investments and assets to market trends and economic policies. His work involves in-depth reviews and analyses, providing insightful observations on wealth accumulation, management strategies, and the socio-economic implications of wealth distribution.
Throughout his career, Alex has become known for his ability to distill complex financial data into understandable and engaging narratives, making the subject of wealth and net worth accessible to a broad audience. His expertise is not just in numbers but in telling the stories behind them, highlighting the journeys, strategies, and decisions that lead to financial success or challenges. Alex's contributions to the field of wealth research are valuable resources for anyone looking to understand the dynamics of wealth in today's world, offering a unique perspective that bridges the gap between financial analysis and human interest.
Nathanial Blackwood
Reviewer
Nathanial (Nate) Blackwood is a distinguished financial journalist with a decade of experience in net worth analysis. He holds an Economics degree from the University of Finance and a Data Analysis certification, enabling him to blend thorough insights with engaging storytelling. Nate is known for making complex financial information accessible to a wide audience, earning acclaim for his precise and reader-friendly analyses. Beyond his writing, Nate is dedicated to financial literacy, actively participating in educational forums and workshops.
He is the founder of PureNetWealth, a platform that demystifies the financial achievements of public figures by exploring the strategies and decisions behind their fortunes. Nate's work bridges the gap between intricate economic concepts and the general public, inspiring a deeper understanding of wealth dynamics. Follow Nathanial Blackwood for essential insights into the financial narratives shaping our world.
Latest Articles
Popular Articles