VANESSA BRYANT SETTLES PHOTO LAWSUIT FOR $28.5-M

March 2, 2023

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Sports News

The wife of the late Kobe Bryant has agreed to settle her remaining claims with Los Angeles County for 28.5 million dollars over grotesque photos that deputies and firefighters shared after a 2020 helicopter crash that killed the NBA star, her 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and 7 others.

The settlement includes an additional payment of $13.5 million from the County along with the $15 million that was already awarded to Vanessa Bryant after a trial in federal court in August.

“Today marks the successful culmination of Mrs. Bryant’s courageous battle to hold accountable those who engaged in this grotesque conduct,” Luis Li, Vanessa Bryant’s attorney, said in a statement. “She fought for her husband, her daughter, and all those in the community whose deceased family were treated with similar disrespect. We hope her victory at trial and this settlement will put an end to this practice.”

The lead lawyer representing Los Angeles County in the case, Mira Hashmall, called the settlement “fair and reasonable” and said 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.”

Meanwhile, a $19.95 million settlement was awarded to co-plaintiff Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter were also killed in the tragic accident.

On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant was traveling with Gianna and seven others to a youth basketball game when the helicopter they were aboard crashed into hills in Calabasas west of Los Angeles.

All nine people were killed in the crash.