Kobe Bryant Crash Photos Case: Vanessa Bryant's Co-Plaintiff Reaches $20M Settlement With Los Angeles County

During the Kobe Bryant crash photos trial, people often forget that it was not just Vanessa Bryant who won the case but also her co-plaintiff, Chris Chester.

Like Vanessa, Chester also lost his loved ones in that fatal January 2020 crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant.

Chester lost his wife, Sarah, and 13-year-old daughter, Payton. Now, Los Angeles County has agreed to pay $19.95 million to him after a recent trial about the photographs allegedly taken by first responders at the scene of the helicopter crash.

The jury initially only awarded Chester $15 million. However, during a closed session, they reached a new settlement, awarding the bereaved family even more money. Los Angeles County now has to pay him an additional $4.95 million, which means the total money he will receive will amount to $19.95 million.

Mira Hashmall, an outside attorney for LA County, noted that this additional payout "resolves all outstanding issues relating to the pending state claims, future claims by the Chester children, attorneys' fees and costs."

She also said she sincerely hopes this settlement will help Chester and his children move forward with their lives. According to USA Today, this settlement ensures that Chris Chester and his children can no longer sue the county regarding the Kobe Bryant crash photos case.

Vanessa Bryant Could Still Pursue Invasion of Privacy Claims Against Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles Times reported that the session only resolved claims by the Chester family. It did not resolve the claims made by Vanessa Bryant.

Jurors only awarded the wife of Kobe Bryant and mother of Gianna Bryant $15 million for the distress they found she had already suffered over the photos and in the future.

Thus, this means that she can still pursue her invasion of privacy claims which stemmed from the images. Vanessa was only interested in justice for Kobe and Gianna then and was not really interested in the money.

After the verdict, she pledged to donate 100% of what she won to the Mamba and Mambacita Foundation.

Why Did Vanessa Bryant and Chris Chester Sue the Los Angeles County?

When first responders rushed to the scene of Kobe Bryant's helicopter crash, several deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's office, and some firefighters, took private photos of the bodies on the crash site, including Kobe Bryant's.

Vanessa Bryant and Chris Chester filed the lawsuit against Los Angeles County after they learned that several deputies were showing off photos from the crash site to other people.

The county argued that the deputies and firefighters were ordered to have those photos deleted. However, Bryant and Chester's lawyers noted that it was unknown whether or not these county officials sent the images to somebody else before the deletion order, as well as the fact that deputies were showing the photos off at a local bar.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: LA County to Pay Nearly $20 Million to Chester Family Over Photos of Kobe - From Current News