Bryant, 39, sued Los Angeles County last summer alleging that county employees “showed off” photos of the crash that resulted in her husband’s death, Kobe Bryant, and their daughter Gianna.
Los Angeles County requested Friday that Vanessa Bryant undergo an independent psychiatric evaluation in order to prove that the photos of the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of her husband and daughter were leaked, the latest development in her ongoing lawsuit against the county.
Bryant, 39, sued Los Angeles County last year, alleging that county employees “showed off” photos of the crash that claimed the lives of her husband Kobe Bryant (and their 13-year-old daughter Gianna)
On Jan. 29, 2020, the father and daughter, along with seven others, died while traveling to Thousand Oaks, California for a basketball tournament. The 13-year old was supposed to be playing.
Bryant’s family members are the plaintiffs in the civil suit. They seek damages of tens to millions from the county.
Friday’s motion was filed by the county because independent examinations are necessary to assess the existence, extent, and nature of Plaintiffs’ alleged emotional injuries. The defendants argue that the crash caused the “severe emotion distress” and not the sharing photos.
“Plaintiffs can’t claim they have ongoing depression, anxiety, or severe emotional distress, and then balk about having to support them claims,” the county stated in the motion. The county also added that the exams are essential to the defense of the county.
Bryant’s lawyers claimed that the motion was part the county’s “scorched Earth discovery tactics” to bully Plaintiffs out of their pursuit of accountability.
“Apparently, the County believes that top officials should be kept from giving testimony. However, victims should not only endure the emotional toll of a full day deposition but also undergo an eight-hour voluntary psychiatric examination because they demanded accountability …” their lawyers wrote in response.
Bryant stated in her original complaint that she was concerned about the helicopter crash site being unprotected from paparazzi. She was assured by law enforcement that it would be secured.
The suit claims that eight sheriff’s deputy officers at the crash site took out their cell phones to take photos of the deceased children, parents, and coaches, as they faced a horrific scene. These photos were taken by the deputies for their personal pleasure.
