The wife of Kobe Bryant has finally wrapped up her lawsuit. Vanessa Bryant sued Los Angeles County over its handling of photos from the 2020 helicopter crash that killed her husband and daughter. Images from the horrific accident were shared by first responders, prompting outrage from Vanessa and others who lost family members in the crash.
Vanessa walked away from the settlement with almost $30 million.
The county awarded the widow $28.85 million on Tuesday, according to NBC News. The conclusion of the legal suit means that none of the other claimants involved in the litigation can go after Los Angeles County in the future, including any of Kobe and Vanessa's surviving three children.
The case was brought against the county over photos taken at the crash.
Vanessa filed suit after she learned that photos of her husband's body were taken at the scene and shared with members of the public.
Evidence was presented that one sheriff's deputy showed a photo to a bartender after the crash, prompting another person seated at the bar to file an official complaint.
Firefighters also were accused of sharing photos.
Additional evidence was presented showing some of the firefighters on the scene shared their own photos with one another during an awards dinner, while others had shared the images with their spouses.
In addition to Kobe and the pair's 13-year-old daughter Gianna, seven other people died during the January 2020 crash.
The settlement was approved by the LA County Board of Supervisors.
"Today marks the successful culmination of Mrs. Bryant's courageous battle to hold accountable those who engaged in this grotesque conduct," Luis Li, one of the lawyers representing Vanessa, told CNN on Tuesday.
"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."
Vanessa was joined by one of the other parents of the crash victims.
In addition to Vanessa's payout, Christopher Chester, who lost 13-year-old Payton and his wife, Sarah, walked away with a nearly $20 million settlement.
Although we know that no amount of money will ever erase their pain and suffering, we hope this victory gives them peace of mind with the knowledge that they may have prevented another family from going through a similar experience.
