It has been more than two years since the tragic helicopter crash that took the lives of Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others on January 26, 2020. A federal judge here in California recently rejected the request by Los Angeles County to dismiss the lawsuit filed in September of 2020 by Vanessa Bryant, the wife of the basketball legend and mother of Gianna.
First responders shared photos of the crash
Bryant claims that first responders shared photos taken of the hillside crash scene (including the deceased) in Las Calabasas in situations irrelevant to the investigation, including at a bar. A bar customer filed a complaint after a bartender who saw photos on a deputy’s personal phone described the pictures in graphic detail. Bryant’s lawsuit claims the actions were a civil rights violation, an act of negligence, caused emotional distress, and violated privacy. There were other incidents of other first responders sharing photos as well.
This lawsuit follows two earlier settlements to family members who lost two loved ones in the same crash. Still, Bryant seems intent in making an example of the deputy and other first responders who shared images.
The wrongful death suit is settled
Bryant and three other families who also lost loved ones in the crash reached an undisclosed settlement with Island Express Helicopters (the helicopter’s operator), Island Express Holding Corp. (the helicopter’s owner), and the estate of Ara Zobayan (the deceased pilot of the helicopter). That suit claimed that pilot negligence caused the deaths.
This firm has no direct connection to this case, but we continue to follow it with interest.