Jurors also will have to wrestle with what constitutes "the public" in this case. "If the county didn't take (the photo sharing) seriously, why is this whole case based on the county's investigation?" she said. She urged the jury to consider the law, which only allows for a verdict against the county if it can be proven county policies were deficient enough to prevent the spread of the photos or if there is a longstanding custom of such behavior within the sheriff and fire departments. Hashmall argued the county's actions to delete the photos resulted in them never being distributed publicly, and she argued further that first responders taking photos did not violate Bryant's rights.
In closing arguments Wednesday, attorneys for Los Angeles County sought to separate Vanessa Bryant's emotional testimony from the legal issues the jury must consider. The Lakers have retired both numbers.ĭefense asks to separate emotions from legality Gavin Newsom signed an invasion-of-privacy bill called the "Kobe Bryant Act" that makes it illegal for first responders to share photos of a dead person at a crime scene "for any purpose other than an official law enforcement purpose." The misdemeanor crime is punishable by up to $1,000 per violation.Ĭoincidentally, Los Angeles has named Wednesday, August 24, as "Kobe Bryant Day" to honor the Los Angeles Lakers star's two jersey numbers, 8 and 24, that he wore during his NBA career.
#Outlook crashes when opening links or downloading images trial#
Witnesses during the trial included a deputy who said he showed graphic images from the scene while at a bar, another deputy who said he shared photos while playing a video game, a deputy who sent dozens of photos to someone he didn't know, and a fire official who showed the images to other personnel during an awards ceremony cocktail hour.
Los Angeles County, though, has argued that it acted appropriately to investigate and delete the photos and prevent them from ever spreading. Their attorneys asked the jury for damages of up to $42.5 million for Bryant and $32.5 million for Chester. Vanessa Bryant and Christopher Chester have argued that the taking and sharing of those photos caused emotional distress and violated their constitutional rights. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the helicopter pilot pushed the limits of bad weather flying rules before he crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, California. The trial against LA county, the Sheriff's Department, Fire Department and others is centered on photos of human remains taken after the helicopter crash that killed NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, Chester's wife Sarah and his daughter Payton and five others in January 2020. "They poured salt into an unhealable wound and that's why we're all here today," he said. In an emotional rebuttal, Bryant's attorney Luis Li argued Wednesday the actions of the county in taking such photos were reckless and inhumane and caused emotional distress.