As a part of Vanessa Bryant’s ongoing lawsuit against Los Angeles County in relation to the death of her husband Kobe and daughter Gianna, the county requested a medical investigation of the mother to prove the leaked photos of the January 2020 helicopter crash caused emotional distress. A judge in LA County has declined this request as an evaluation of this manner would be “untimely.”
In January 2020, Vanessa had the horrific experience of losing both her husband and 13-year-old daughter on the same day due to a helicopter crash. Leaked photos of the incident have become prevalent in the investigation and LA county has argued that a psychological evaluation is needed on the family of the victims, Vanessa included.
Attorneys argued that psychological examinations, “are not only relevant but necessary for the County to mount its defense to these claims and to evaluate the existence, extent, and nature of Plaintiffs’ alleged emotional injuries.”
Documents obtained by PEOPLE revealed, “Defendants’ position is that, while Plaintiffs have undoubtedly suffered severe distress and trauma from the crash and resulting loss of their loved ones, their distress was not caused by Defendants or any accident site photos that were never publicly disseminated.”
Vanessa Bryant’s legal team takes action agaisnt Los Angeles County
Vanessa Bryant’s legal team noted that there are plenty of other ways to go about this that don’t involve intrusive means, as reported by CNN.
“It does not take an expert — and it certainly does not take an involuntary eight-hour psychiatric examination — for a jury to assess the nature and extent of the emotional distress caused by Defendants’ misconduct,” Bryant’s attorney explained on the outlet.
Vanessa went on to file complaints about the county sheriff’s office as well as the fire department, commenting that they had refused her request for the crash site to be a no-fly zone in order to ensure it was protected from paparazzi. The loss of beloved family members has obviously left Vanessa Bryant in shambles, but the media’s lack of respect is also notably distressing.
“The impact of the helicopter crash was so damaging, I just don’t understand how someone can have no regard for life and compassion, and, instead, choose to take that opportunity to photograph lifeless and helpless individuals for their own sick amusement,” she stressed.
Vanessa then emphasized, “My life will never be the same without my husband and daughter.”
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