Vanessa Bryant, the widow of the late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, has reached a settlement in her lawsuit against the Los Angeles County department.
On January 26, 2020, the world stood still when the news of former five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant’s passing surfaced on the internet. Kobe, along with his daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others, faced a fatal helicopter crash on the outskirts of Los Angeles due to bad weather conditions. All the passengers on board passed away as the chopper caught fire after crashing.
However, a month later, Vanessa Bryant, Kobe Bryant’s widow, called out Los Angeles Sheriff’s department’s deputies for taking disturbed images of the crash site on their personal devices and sharing them with the general public. The matter worsened, and Vanessa decided to file a lawsuit in 2022. The lawsuit has now reached a settlement, and Vanessa is set to earn big bucks out of it.
Vanessa Bryant Settles Lawsuit With LA County For A Whopping Compensation
Tragedy struck the Bryant family in 2022 after Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna passed away in a terrible helicopter crash. Kobe left behind a loving wife and three daughters. However, the family was not allowed to mourn in peace as Kobe’s wife, Vanessa, alleged that a few disturbing images from the crash site were being shared online by the first duty responders. She then filed the lawsuit last September, alleging that eight deputies used the photos to make fun of and shared them with others, including members of the public.
Vanessa alleged the photos disturned her mental health, and she started having panic attacks thinking what of her girls ever come across these images. After months of trial and negotiations, Kobe’s wife finally agreed to reach a settlement. She will receive $28.85 million from the LA County department, which includes the $15 million that the trial jury gave in as compensation. Apart from Vanessa, Chris Chester, the co-plaintiff, whose wife and daughter died in the same crash, will receive $19.95 million. The settlement also marks a rare instance in which a government agency has agreed to pay a large sum of money to settle a lawsuit over police misconduct.
The Legacy Kobe Bryant Left Behind For The Lakers
Kobe Bryant is the synonym for LA Lakers. He spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Lakers, where he won five championships and two Finals MVP awards. He was also an 18-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion, and a 15-time member of the All-NBA team. In 2020, the Lakers dedicated their playoff run to Bryant, wearing special jerseys with a black stripe to honor his memory.
They ultimately won the NBA championship that year, with LeBron James dedicating the victory to Bryant in an emotional postgame interview. Moreover, Bryant’s impact on the Lakers franchise extends beyond just his on-court accomplishments. Kobe Bryant was a cultural icon who contained the spirit of Los Angeles, and his influence still lives today in the city’s vibrant basketball culture.