Vanessa Bryant had sued Los Angeles County, alleging invasion of
privacy, after accusing members of the Los Angeles County
sheriff's and fire departments of sharing gruesome images of the
crash in unofficial settings, including to patrons in a bar.
Chris Chester, whose wife Sarah, 45, and daughter, Payton, 13,
were among those killed in the crash and who joined Bryant's
lawsuit, was awarded $15 million, bringing the total jury award
to $31 million.
Bryant, who was in the Los Angeles federal courtroom when the
verdict was read out after an 11-day trial, clasped her face in
her hands and wept. She and her attorney declined to speak to
reporters as they left the courthouse.
Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people died in
the crash in Calabasas, Calif., on Jan. 26, 2020.
Vanessa Bryant has also filed lawsuits against the helicopter
charter company and the deceased pilot's estate.
The county already agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle a
similar case brought by families of others who died in the
crash.
Kobe Bryant was 41 when he died. The Los Angeles Lakers great
and 18-time All-Star won five NBA championships and was elected
to the Hall of Fame in 2020.
(Reporting by Tim Reid in Los Angeles; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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