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"Today marks the successful culmination of Mrs.
Bryant's courageous battle to hold accountable those who engaged
in this grotesque conduct," said Luis Li, attorney for Vanessa
Bryant, Kobe Bryant's wife. "She fought for her husband, her
daughter, and all those in the community whose deceased family
were treated with similar disrespect."
Li confirmed that the settlement was for $28.85 million. That
includes the $15 million that a jury in a federal court awarded
to Vanessa Bryant in August in the case after finding that
firefighters and deputies violated her privacy and caused her
emotional distress.
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 images of the crash in
unofficial settings, including to patrons in a bar.
Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people died in
the crash in Calabasas, Calif., on Jan. 26, 2020.
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.
Mira Hashmall, an attorney representing the county in the case,
told the Los Angeles Times that the settlement was "fair and
reasonable."
She added that it resolves "all outstanding issues related to
pending legal claims in state court, future claims by the Bryant
children, and other costs, with each party responsible for its
respective attorneys' fees."
(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas. Editing by Gerry
Doyle)
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