Please stop describing the scene to me, he, Please refrain from taking my brain back to that crash site, he, Throughout his testimony, Jordan grew increasingly frustrated when probed about the specific details of his actions and even walked away from the stand on three occasions, according to, Jordan left the courtroom for the first time, accompanied by his lawyer, after being asked if he had photographed Kobes body at the scene, prompting him to rise from his seat saying: I need a break, I need a break., I had an image in my head that was not pleasant, he, When asked whether he photographed the remains of 13-year-old Gianna, Jordan, Prior to the trial, Jordan had made efforts to. Olly Murs breaks down on stage over Caroline Flack 'regret', Fulham's Pereira stretchered off with suspected broken leg in worrying scenes, One dead and seven injured as knifeman goes on bloody rampage near club, 'Meghan killed me - then she mourns me', says estranged dad Thomas Markle, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. A coroner testified in Vanessa Bryant's suit against LA County over helicopter-crash photos of Kobe. The third firefighter was suspended, the filing claims without naming any of the involved personnel. In subsequent filings, Bryant's legal team also said it learned by examining internal documents from the sheriff's department and fire department that as many as 66 county employees had knowledge of the photos and at least 18, including the four named deputies, had either taken or shared the pictures directly. Gutierrez told the court. All rights reserved. Vanessa Bryant opens up to People magazine about coping with loss, "inexcusable," "inappropriate" and "unconscionable,". Firefighters work at the scene of a helicopter crash where Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in Calabasas, Calif., on Jan. 26, 2020. "The Labyrinth," an environmental sculpture at the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden. The jury also awarded $15million to Vanessa's co-plaintiff, Chris Chester, who lost his wife and daughter in the crash. Emily Tauscher, the head of investigations at the LA County coroner's office, took center stage on the second day of the trial between Vanessa Bryant and Los Angeles County. The plaintiffs are seeking damages for emotional distress. In his March 2020 interview with NBC News, Villanueva said he was focused on containing the potential distribution of the photos. "Did you see a person you understood to be Kobe Bryant in the photos that Cruz showed you?" The Monday filing by Bryant's attorneys also included more specific information drawn from a confidential sheriff's department internal affairs report that said the captain of the Malibu-Lost Hills station attempted to stop deputies from deleting the photos, warning they could be violating the law by destroying evidence. He took his own photos the next day, the Times reported, but denied taking photos of the victims' bodies and said he did not take photos with his personal cellphone. FILE In this Jan. 26, 2020, photo, firefighters work the scene of a helicopter crash where former NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant died in Calabasas. I was there. Vanessa Bryants lawsuit accuses a number of deputies, firefighters, and other officials of taking or sharing photos of dead bodies at the scene, including those of Kobe and the couple's teenage daughter, Gianna. Enjoy your weekend. The NTSB determined the probable cause of the crash was pilot error. At times, it appeared that Cruz and Gutierrez were smiling and laughing after viewing the photos but Gutierrez disputed that interpretation. Anyone can read what you share. Bryant feels ill at the thought of strangers gawking at images of her deceased husband and child, and she lives in fear that she or her children will one day confront horrific images of their loved ones online, Bryants lawyers wrote in a complaint. Ron Haralson, declined to comment, citing the pending litigation, and could not confirm whether or not the three firefighters had been fired or disciplined. Vanessa's original lawsuit filing also alleges the crash photos were a topic of discussion within the sheriff's department, as deputies allowed their colleagues to see the photos that had no investigative purpose. Bryant, sitting in the courtroom, repeatedly wiped away tears and, at times, held her head in her hands. None of the three was identified by name, and their employment status was not clear. A fire department probe found that two firefighters had taken crash site photos that "served no business necessity," Vanessa Bryants lawyers said in a court filing. IE 11 is not supported. Tauscher, a key witness for Bryant and Chester, delivered exceptionally detailed and graphic testimony about the post-crash condition of each victim's body, providing jurors with a mental image of what photos of the site would show. Contact Ellen Durney at ellen.durney@buzzfeed.com. A deputy showed off the crash site pics to a woman he was trying to impress at a bar, the lawsuit claims. LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. Two Los Angeles County firefighters who allegedly took souvenir photos of victims remains at the scene of Kobe Bryants horrific helicopter crash last year are facing termination, a new court filing claims. The deputies Kobe and Gigi were on their way to the Mamba Academy for basketball practice when the private helicopter went down in the Calabasas mountains northwest of Los Angeles. Imbrenda did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. His lawsuit says he received photos from people working at the crash site "as is common practice on all major incidents.". Vanessa shared Instagram photos of memorabilia pieces she collected during her late husband's career last year amid the legal drama. In September 2020, Vanessa Bryantsued the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the county's fire department, the county as a whole, and eight officers in the wake of reports that first responders took and shared photos of the January 2020 crash site. Here's How They're Doing It, How SNL Star Ego Nwodim Brought Lisa From Temecula' to Life, Women Found Dead Near Railroad in Carson Identified, Hollywood Braces for Possible Writers Strike as Talks Continue. Plaintiffs cannot claim that they are suffering from ongoing depression, anxiety and severe emotional distress and then balk at having to support their claims., Vanessas attorneys slammed the request, calling out the county for trying to force the evaluations on all of the surviving family, including four teenagers, a 10-year-old child, and a 5-year-old kindergartener., The lawyers added in their response filings: "The County has resorted to scorched-earth discovery tactics designed to bully Plaintiffs into abandoning their pursuit of accountability.". They maintain the photos did not spread from outside the bar and were deleted shortly after. P.S. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. Email your suggestions to CAtoday@nytimes.com. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. All nine people aboard, including the pilot, Ara Zobayan, died in the crash. WebAn institutional culture of callousness led Los Angeles county deputies and firefighters to shoot and share photos of the remains of Kobe Bryant and other victims of the 2020 Vanessa Bryants case claimed dissemination of the images was so widespread within the sheriff's department that one detective who received some of the pictures told investigators he couldn't remember who gave them to him. Los Angeles County attorneys have argued that there is no legal basis for Vanessa Bryant's lawsuit because the photos were not publicly disseminated. Federal safety officials blamed pilot error for the wreck that killed the Los Angeles Lakers basketball star. The court documents were filed Monday as part of widow Vanessa Bryant's federal lawsuit against Los Angeles County that alleges invasion of privacy. "The deputies took these photos for their own personal gratification.". The captain, whose name is not included in the court declaration, said he was told by superiors that if deputies deleted the photos "there would be no discipline," but if the photos became public, "all bets were off and they would be fired.". 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. WebThe legal team for Kobe Bryants widow filed documents in federal court late Monday that include descriptions of photos taken from the scene of a helicopter crash that killed her "Had we done the original, usual routine, which was relieve everybody of duty and everybody lawyers up and all that, that would increase the odds 10-fold that those photos would have somehow made their way into the public domain, Villanueva added. The union representing Los Angeles County firefighters did not respond to a request for comment. WebEIGHT officers from the LA County Sheriff's Department took photos of the grisly crash site where Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were killed, a lawsuit claims. The captain, whose name is not included in the court declaration, said he was told by superiors that if deputies deleted the photos "there would be no discipline," but if the photos became public, "all bets were off and they would be fired.". Eric Leonard reports for NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on May 3, 2021. The county continues to express its deepest sympathies for the families that suffered this terrible loss, Mira Hashmall, a lawyer representing Los Angeles County, said in a statement. The evidence shows they never were. And that's definitely what we do not want.. All rights reserved. The trial is expected to last at least another week, with 52 total witnesses slated to appear. Also testifying was Gutierrez, the bartender, who said Deputy Joey Cruz showed him cellphone images of the helicopter crash victims. After they settled in, footage showed Gutierrez approaching them and he "sounded very excited," Mendez told the court. Villanueva allegedly didn't tell the victims' families about the images - their loved ones only learned of the scandal in the media after the story broke, according to the lawsuit. Eric Leonard reports for NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on April 15, 2021. The two firefighters -- one of whom was at the site solely to monitor safety procedures -- were sent "intention to discharge" letters last December. "Yes," Gutierrez said, adding that he did not know if there were others in the photos because "there were just parts.". Plaintiff brought this lawsuit because she is concerned that photographs may be publicly disseminated. That's when a bartender overheard the conversation and blew the whistle by reporting the information to the sheriff's department. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. A top Los Angeles County coroner on Thursday testified in graphic detail about the state of Kobe Bryant's body following the 2020 helicopter crash that killed all nine passengers, including the basketball legend and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant. Two other victims families settled for $1.25 million each last year. The Los Angeles County Fire Department planned to terminate the employment of two firefighters and suspend a third for allegedly taking graphic photos of the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash scene and sharing them with their wives and girlfriends, according to court documents filed this week. Gavin Newsom unveiled a new strategy to collect and store more water, recycle more wastewater, and desalinate seawater and salty groundwater to address the states long-term drought problems, The Associated Press reports. I do not remember being there. Todays tip comes from Carolyn Chaney, who recommends the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden: The Garden is filled with native California plants, including a stand of magnificent redwoods and a section devoted to the Channel Islands (with a great view most days). Bryant filed a lawsuit against the county and other defendants over allegations that LA sheriff's deputies and Los Angeles County Fire Department captains took and shared photos of the helicopter crash site in late January 2020. They were caught sharing graphic photos they had stored on their phones of the helicopter crash that killed Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others. WebReport: Firefighters Also Shared Graphic Images From Scene Of Helicopter Crash That Killed Kobe Brya. Sheriff Alex Villanueva has said he learned within days of the crash that at least one deputy who worked at the Malibu-Lost Hills station had reportedly flashed gruesome accident scene photos at a bar. WebEIGHT officers from the LA County Sheriff's Department took photos of the grisly crash site where Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were killed, a lawsuit claims. The captain of the Malibu/Lost Hills sheriff's station, which oversees the area where the crash occurred, pushed back on the decision but was overruled. and suppliers. Inside the Trial Over Kobe Bryant Crash Site Photos, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/us/kobe-bryant-crash-photos-trial.html. Summer of NIMBY: Tech moguls and investors, whose industry champions housing relief, have banded together to object to a plan for multifamily homes near their estates in Atherton. The filings propose that a Nov. 16 trial be postponed five months to April 27, 2022, because of a large amount of material that attorneys need to review. WebMay 12, 2021, 4:59 PM LOS ANGELES -- Two Los Angeles County firefighters could be fired and a third suspended after some first responders took and shared graphic photos from Bryants lawsuit accuses a number of deputies, firefighters and other officials of taking or sharing photos of dead bodies at the scene, including those of Kobe Bryant and the couple's teenage daughter, Gianna. ", Videos showed Gutierrez making motions towards his head, neck, and torso as if to describe the injuries in the photos when speaking with other parties. Bryant first filed the invasion of privacy lawsuit in state court in September 2020, then moved it to federal court a month later, accusing county employees of having "shown off" photos of the remains of her husband and teenage daughter for no law enforcement purpose. 'Irrational confidence', Stars pay tribute to Stephen Curry after 50-point NBA playoff game, Which teams will reach the NBA conference finals? The former LA Fire Department captain was present at the scene of the incident and spoke of images that will haunt [him] forever after admitting that he took 25 to 30 photographs of the crash site. The jury also awarded $15million to Vanessa's co-plaintiff, Chris Chester, who lost his wife and daughter in the crash. Tauscher testified that human remains from the crash were scattered over 500 yards, which created an impact zone larger than two football fields while a magnesium fire from the crash was aflame. The Los Angeles County Fire Department said, while it has no confirmed The Associated Press contributed to this report. The NBA icon and his 13-year-old daughter tragically died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. Vanessas lawyers revealed the firefighters alleged misconduct in a Monday motion asking for more time to follow new leads and collect more devices for forensic examination. Bryants attorneys have not responded to requests for comment about the lawsuit. Water: Gov. Jordan went on to say that he could not recall details about the day due to memory issues. Seated at one of the tables that Gutierrez animatedly walked up to was Ralph Mendez Jr., a Norwalk real estate investor who had entered the bar with his adult softball team "Past My Prime" shortly before Cruz left. Kobe Bryant crash: Los Angeles The deputies allegedly snapped photos of the dead children, their parents and coaches, according to the lawsuit filed last year by Vanessa Bryant in Los Angeles. "That was my No. The two firefighters were sent "intention to discharge" letters last December after a fire department internal investigation concluded they had taken photos of the dead bodies in the helicopter wreckage that "served no business necessity" and "only served to appeal to baser instincts and desires for what amounted to visual gossip," Bryant's attorneys said in a declaration in support of delaying the lawsuit trial to allow time for additional investigation. The May 10, 2021, filing by Bryant's attorneys also included more specific information drawn from a confidential sheriff's department internal affairs report that said the captain of the Malibu-Lost Hills station attempted to stop deputies from deleting the photos, warning they could be violating the law by destroying evidence. Last March, U.S. District Court Judge John F. Walter ruled against the county and allowed the deputies' names to be published. When Gutierrez told him what Cruz had shared with him, Mendez said he was "in disbelief, disgusted and angry. Representatives from the union that represents firefighters did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' request for comment Wednesday. Several Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies -- none of whom were directly involved in the investigation of the crash -- are also included in the lawsuit because they are accused of taking or passing around the grisly photos with family, friends and, in one case, a bar patron and a bartender who later complained to the sheriff's department. Bryant feels ill at the thought that sheriffs deputies, firefighters and members of the public have gawked at gratuitous images of her deceased husband and child, the lawsuit Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Recovery after fire: One year after a wildfire charged across a craggy mountainside above Lone Pine, flashes of new growth are emerging in the still-charred corner of the Inyo National Forest, The Associated Press reports. An internal investigation by the Los Angeles County Fire Department found that two firefighters -- whose names were not disclosed in the court filings -- had taken photos of the bodies in the helicopter wreckage that "served no business necessity," Vanessa Bryant's attorneys wrote, and "only served to appeal to baser instincts and desires for what amounted to visual gossip.". WebBy Eric Leonard and Andrew Blankstein The Los Angeles County Fire Department planned to terminate the employment of two firefighters and suspend a third for allegedly taking The firefighter who received the photos and shared them with others was not named in court documents, but the Los Angeles Times has reported that Capt. In Vanessa's lawsuit, she claims Sheriff Alex Villanueva attempted to cover up the misconduct by going to the department substation that responded to the crash and told deputies they'd get off scot-free if they deleted the photos. Gov. In Vanessa's lawsuit, she claims Sheriff Alex Villanueva attempted to cover up the misconduct by going to the department substation that responded to the crash and told deputies they'd get off scot-free if they deleted the photos. The Sheriff's Department said Wednesday that "a full administrative investigation was conducted and appropriate administrative action was taken.'' Rent hikes: Large rent increases are coming for many Los Angeles tenants despite state and local laws meant to stop landlords from passing on huge increases, The LAist reports. The county continues to express its deepest sympathies for the families that suffered this terrible loss, county lawyer Mira Hashmall told, The county has also worked tirelessly for two and half years to make sure its site photos of the crash were never publicly disseminated, the statement said. A private citizen said he felt a "sense of betrayal" when a Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputy showed grisly photos of Kobe Bryant's dead body to a bartender, who went table-to-table telling patrons and employees about what he had just seen. The deputies were not named as defendants in the suit. "Had we done the original, usual routine, which was relieve everybody of duty and everybody lawyers up and all that, that would increase the odds 10-fold that those photos would have somehow made their way into the public domain, Villanueva added. Ron Hernandez, president of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, had previously declined to say if the deputies named by Bryant have been disciplined, are on modified duty or even if they're still employed by the department. Mendez previously told sheriffs investigators that the bartender, Victor Gutierrez, walked over to their table and shared a story: A bar regular who was a Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy had just shown Gutierrez graphic photos of victims from the crash site. For Mendez, that interaction was enough to file a citizen complaint. Bryant previously claimed in court papers that Villanueva's direction to delete the photos amounted to an attempt to destroy evidence. Vanessa Bryant is suing Los Angeles County, saying that her privacy was invaded when sheriffs deputies and firefighters privately shared photos of the fatal scene. Tauscher testified that the coroner's office took about 1,250 photos of the crash site, about 300 of which were of human remains. Capt. A few days after the January 2020 crash, Raphael Mendez Jr. walked into the Baja California Bar and Grill in Norwalk with his teammates after a softball game, based on testimony I covered Thursday. Ellen Durney is a Celebrity News Fellow for BuzzFeed News and is based in London. interacts online and researches product purchases Two key witnesses testified in Vanessa Bryant's trial against LA County on Thursday. LA Countys lawyers have now filed a detailed denial of Bryant's claims, in which the county asks a federal judge to dismiss Bryant's case. Firefighters at the scene of Kobe Bryants helicopter crash in Calabasas on Jan. 26, 2020. "He (Cruz) had the public's trust riding on his shoulders," Mendez told the court. Copyright 2023 The family room was expanded by pushing out the back wall and eliminating columns. "Maybe he was showing a funny video.". Tony Imbrenda filed a retaliation lawsuit in November. "We never laughed about the photos, I'm 100% sure of that what type of human beings would we be." Solitary confinement bill: The state Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday passed Assembly Bill 2632, which would restrict the use of solitary confinement. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Vanessa's original lawsuit filing also alleges the crash photos were a topic of discussion within the sheriff's department, as deputies allowed their colleagues to see the photos that had no investigative purpose. The deputies allegedly snapped photos of the dead children, their parents and coaches, according to the lawsuit filed last year by Vanessa Bryant in Los Angeles. Villanueva told NBC News in March 2020 the behavior was "inexcusable," "inappropriate" and "unconscionable," and said the deputies were immediately ordered to delete the images. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Los Angeles County has now hit back in new court documents askingVanessato undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether or not shes actually been as distressed as shes claimed. Imbrenda alleged he was demoted for refusing to hand over his personal cellphone during the investigation into the photos, which he said was a violation of the Firefighter Bill of Rights. In September 2020, Bryant sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the county's fire department, the county as a whole, and eight officers in the wake of reports reported on by the LA Times that first responders took and shared photos of the January 2020 crash site. Kobe and Gianna Bryant were among nine people killed in January 2020 when the helicopter they were riding in flew through thick clouds and crashed into a hillside near Calabasas. "No fewer than 8 sheriff's deputies at the crash site, pulled out their personal cell phones and snapped photos of the dead children, parents and coaches," says the lawsuit, which TMZ obtained a copy of. Copyright 2023 FireRescue1. Representatives from the union that represents firefighters did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' request for comment Wednesday. Seven other passengers were also killed in the fiery crash. County cops and fire officials took and shared graphic photos of Kobe and Gigi Bryant's crash The sheriff's department initially withheld from the public court file the names of four of the accused deputies, citing concerns they would be targeted for harassment or hacking if publicly identified. Plaintiffs cannot claim that they are suffering from ongoing depression, anxiety and severe emotional distress and then balk at having to support their claims., Vanessas attorneys slammed the request, calling out the county for trying to force the evaluations on all of the surviving family, including four teenagers, a 10-year-old child, and a 5-year-old kindergartener., The lawyers added in their response filings: "The County has resorted to scorched-earth discovery tactics designed to bully Plaintiffs into abandoning their pursuit of accountability.". USA Todayreports the filings read: "Despite putting their mental condition front and center in this case, Plaintiffs refuse to submit to independent medical examinations (IMEs). She offered insight into the grisly scene to give a sense of what photos of the site would show. She told the courtroom that the coroner's office did not invite the families to identify their loved ones after the crash because of the intense and unidentifiable nature of their condition. WebThe Los Angeles County Fire Department planned to terminate the employment of two firefighters and suspend a third for allegedly taking graphic photos of the Kobe Bryant WebMrs. Cruz, then a 4-month trainee of the LASD, had responded to the helicopter crash site on January 26, 2020, where nine people died. Vanessa Bryant arrives at Federal Court to testify Kobe Bryant's widow has been awarded $16m (13.6m) in damages over leaked graphic photos of the helicopter crash that killed the US basketball star and his daughter in 2020. Tauscher painted a gruesome picture of the crash site, offering detailed insight into the grisly scene that would've been captured in the photos. Kobe's wife sued the LAPD sheriff after the graphic photos showed the remains of the NBA star and eight others who died in the helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. Los Angeles County attorneys have argued that there is no legal basis for Vanessa Bryant's lawsuit because the photos were not publicly disseminated. On August 24, 2022, a unanimous jury determined that Los Angeles County must pay Vanessa $16million over the photos. Among the other items are the Adidas sneakersKobewore during his championship run with theLos AngelesLakers and the champagne-soaked locker room t-shirt he wore after winning the championship in 2001. Lexipol. She also discussed the photo practices of the coroner's office describing a more ad-hoc approach to site photography in the sheriff's department's system that could've allowed photos to be taken and shared. Moments later, security camera footage showed him and Cruz laughing. In a courtroom on the seventh floor of the marbled federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, a high-stakes drama is playing out, pitting one of the countrys largest law enforcement agencies against the widow of one of the citys patron saints. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday.
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