Lawsuit over accidental photos: Kobe Bryant's widow receives $ 29 million

In 2020, nine people die in a helicopter crash, including basketball star Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter.

Lawsuit over accidental photos: Kobe Bryant's widow receives $ 29 million

In 2020, nine people die in a helicopter crash, including basketball star Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter. Because emergency services illegally took photos of the scene of the accident, the family goes to court - and is now again awarded a sum of millions.

The family of US basketball star Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash, will receive millions more from Los Angeles County in the process of photos of the crash victims. The defendant district agreed to pay the couple's widow Vanessa Bryant and the couple's three surviving daughters a total of $28.85 million, according to US media, citing documents and attorneys filed with the relevant district court reported.

The then 41-year-old former LA Lakers player died in January 2020 with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles. Bryant's widow sued Los Angeles County because employees of the county sheriff's office and the fire department took photos of the victims at the scene and then showed them to bystanders - such as in a bar.

In August 2022, she was awarded $16 million in damages in the process. That settled the federal case, but allegations of violations of state law remained. According to the plaintiff, the existence of the photos and their possible - possibly even later - distribution represented an invasion of privacy and caused emotional stress for the bereaved. She lives in fear that the photos could one day pop up in front of her daughters on the Internet, Bryant said in the process, according to the "New York Times".

In the agreement that has been reached, which includes the millions that have already been awarded, any future claims by the subsidiaries are also to be settled. "Today marks the successful culmination of Ms. Bryant's courageous fight to hold accountable those who participated in this grotesque behavior," US media quoted Bryant's attorney Luis Li as saying. LA County attorneys spoke of a "fair and reasonable " Agreement. With a pending judicial signature, the process can now be completed. The survivors of other victims of the crash had also complained separately and were also awarded millions last August.