Jury awards $16 million to Kobe Bryant's widow over crash photos

A jury on Wednesday awarded Kobe Bryant's widow, Vanessa Bryant, $16 million after first responders shared photos of the crash that killed her husband and daughter.

The images of the fatal 2020 crash did not become public, but witnesses testified that officials shared them with civilians, according to the New York Post.

Bryant's attorney sought $42.5 million for the basketball star's widow and a further $32.5 million for Chris Chester, whose relatives also died in the crash.

Despite the fact that the photos did not become public, Bryant testified that she suffered emotional distress at the prospect of their release. “I live in fear every day of being on social media and these popping up,” she said, per the Post. “I live in fear of my daughters being on social media and these popping up.”

The late Lakers star died in a 2020 helicopter crash alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. The verdict happened to come on the same day that Los Angeles observes “Kobe Bryant Day.”