Vanessa Bryant has reached a $28.5 million settlement with Los Angeles County regarding the unauthorized photographs taken of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed her husband, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, and their daughter, Gianna.
The settlement incorporates the $15 million awarded to Ms. Bryant after a civil trial in August, along with additional funds to address potential claims from her daughters, according to The New York Times.
The tragic crash occurred on January 26, 2020, as the helicopter was en route from Orange County to a basketball tournament, resulting in the deaths of Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, and seven others, including John Altobelli, his wife Keri, their daughter Alyssa, coach Christina Mauser, and pilot Ara Zobayan.
In the days following the accident, it was revealed during the trial that county police and fire officials had shared graphic photos of the crash site, including images of the victims’ bodies. This egregious behavior led to lawsuits from the families of Mauser and the Altobellis, who each received $1.25 million settlements from Los Angeles County in November.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has now agreed to a nearly $30 million payout to the Bryant family, covering Ms. Bryant’s claims and any future claims from her daughters Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.
“Today marks the successful culmination of Mrs. Bryant’s courageous battle to hold accountable those who engaged in this grotesque conduct,” said Luis Li, Ms. Bryant’s lawyer. “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.”
During the trial, it was disclosed that Deputy Joey Cruz showed the photos, including human remains, to a bartender and others without a legitimate reason, leading to a brief suspension. Additionally, a Los Angeles County firefighter displayed the photos at a public event, further highlighting the disrespect shown to the victims’ families.
Ms. Bryant testified that she continues to suffer from panic attacks, fearing the potential public exposure of the photos. “I live in fear every day of seeing on social media and having these images pop up,” she said. “I don’t ever want to see these photographs. I want to remember them as they were.”
In a related decision, the jury also awarded $15 million to Christopher Chester, who lost his wife Sarah and their 13-year-old daughter Payton in the crash.
