Vanessa Bryant puts in place a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff Alex Villanueva for photos being leaked showing the helicopter crash that killed the NBA legend, her husband, Kobe Bryant, their 13-year-old daughter Gianna, along with seven other friends and passengers in January 2020.
What We Know:
- After that devastating crash in January, reports emerged that graphic photos of the victims were being shared. Vanessa’s lawyer stated she was distraught by all the news and stories.
- This current lawsuit seeks damages for negligence, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Vanessa claims officials did not contact her about the helicopter crash, which she states in the filing, left her feeling “confused and distraught”.
- There was a previous wrongful death lawsuit filed by Vanessa against the helicopter conductor who was involved in the crash that killed her husband, Kobe Bryant, and their daughter Gianna Bryant.
- The lawsuit also stated, no less than eight sheriff’s agents present at the crash site took their personal cell phones and took photos of the deceased children, parents, and coaches. The officers took these photos for their own personal satisfaction.
- After she inquired more information on the leaked photos, the lawsuit stated an attorney for the sheriff’s department answered that the department had no legal responsibility to respond to her questions and would not do so.
- Sheriff Alex Villanueva previously mentioned to reporters that eight deputies took or shared graphic photos of the scene, and he ordered the images to be deleted. The sheriff stated the department has a policy against taking and sharing crime scene photos, but it does not pertain to accident scenes.
- The claim also mentions that Vanessa Bryant is worried that her daughters might find or see those horrific pictures online.
Gavin Newsom, California governor, has not yet signed a bill that would make it a misdemeanor for first responders to take prohibited photos of dead people in the scene of an accident or crime. The crash photos put in motion the legislation.
