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Vanessa Bryant celebrated a victory on Thursday night on Instagram, sharing a picture of late husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant after winning $16 million in a lawsuit against Los Angeles County.
The NBA legend and their 13-year-old daughter, who went by Gigi, were killed in a helicopter crash, along with seven others, on their way to one of Gigi's games in January of 2020. That September, Vanessa Bryant filed a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles sheriffs and fire departments for taking grisly photos of the crash scene and sharing them.
On Wednesday, nine jurors unanimously agreed that the photos of the crash invaded her privacy and caused emotional distress, awarding her $16 million.
According to ESPN, the jury deliberated for 4 1/2 hours on Wednesday before coming to a decision, and Vanessa Bryant cried quietly while the verdict was read.
She then took to Instagram to post in celebration. In the photo, Vanessa Bryant stands between Kobi and Gigi, all three grinning. In the caption, she wrote,
"All for you! I love you! JUSTICE for Kobe and Gigi! #Betonyourself #MambaDay 8•24•22 💜💛💜💛 #MambaMentality."
Wednesday's verdict also came on Kobe Bryant Day in Los Angeles. August 24 represents his jersey numbers, 8 and 24, and is the day after his birthday.
Vanessa Bryant's lawsuit alleged that the pictures taken of the crash site in 2020 were shown to people in settings that were irrelevant to the investigation, including a sheriff's deputy allegedly showing images of her husband's corpse to bar patrons.
According to Reuters, the lawsuit stated, "Mrs. Bryant feels ill at the thought that sheriff's deputies, firefighters, and members of the public have gawked at gratuitous images of her deceased husband and child.
"She lives in fear that she or her children will one day confront horrific images of their loved ones online."
Vanessa Bryant testified in the 11-day trial last Friday, saying, "I live in fear every day of being on social media and these popping up. I live in fear of my daughters being on social media and these popping up."
Co-plaintiff Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter were among those killed in the crash, was awarded $15 million.
Chester's lawyer, Jerry Jackson, said after the trial, "We're grateful for a jury and a judge who gave us a fair trial."
Following the photo leaks, California made it illegal for first responders to take unauthorized photos of an accident or crime scene.
Newsweek reached out to Vanessa Bryant and the Los Angeles County police for additional comment.
About the writer
Emma Mayer is a Newsweek Culture Writer based in Wyoming. Her focus is reporting on celebrities, books, movies, and music. ... Read more