Multi-million settlement reached by Vanessa Bryant over Kobe’s accident photos

On 24 August of last year, the privacy invasion trial between Vanessa Bryant, widow of Kobe Bryant, against Los Angeles County, California, came to an end. Bryant had filed a lawsuit alleging that some officers took and shared photos of her late husband and daughter, Gianna, who both perished following the tragic helicopter crash.

The jury found that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) and the Fire Department (LAFD) shared photos of the bodies of the loved ones of Vanessa and her co-plaintiff Chris Chester. In doing so they invaded their privacy and caused emotional distress.

Bryant originally received $15 million. Yet six months later, she has now reached a final settlement.

What was Vanessa Bryant’s final settlement?

Bryant accepted a payment of $28.85 million from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The settlement includes Vanessa’s claims and covers any future demands by her and Kobe’s daughters Natalia, 20, Bianka, six, and Capri, three.

The settlement is still “contingent on court approval” for the younger children. In addition, everyone involved will pay their own legal fees.

“Today marks the successful culmination of Mrs. Bryant’s courageous battle to hold accountable those who engaged in this grotesque conduct,” Bryant’s lawyer Luis Li said in a statement to People magazine.

“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 final settlement amount includes the $15 million Vanessa received in August. Initially, she had been awarded $16 million, but it was reduced after a clerical error was discovered.

Earlier, co-plaintiff Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter also died in the crash, settled for $19.95 million.