Hulk Hogan awarded $115 million judgment in suit against Gawker
Former pro wrestling star Hulk Hogan was awarded $115 million in damages Friday by a Florida jury in his case against Gawker, according to multiple reports.
The decision came after a trial that evolved from Gawker publishing a sex tape of Hogan and the wife of his friend radio DJ Bubba the Love Sponge.
The video was recorded in 2007 and published in 2012. Gawker ran about two of its 30 minutes.
Hogan contended that the video was an invasion of privacy, illegal wiretapping and a violation of the right of publicity and that it inflicted emotional distress. Pinellas County jurors began deliberations Friday afternoon after two weeks of testimony and came to a conclusion quickly.
Did plaintiff prove that by posting the video Defendants publicly disclosed private facts? YES #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 18, 2016
Did Plaintiff prove that Defendants intended to cause him severe emotional distress, or acted with reckless disregard? YES#hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 18, 2016
Did Plaintiff prove that he had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the bedroom where the VIDEO was recorded?
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 18, 2016
YES#hulkvsgawk
Jury awards Hulk Hogan $115 million in damages #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 18, 2016
Jury awards $55 million for economic injuries, plus $60 million for emotional distress #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 18, 2016
That's $115 million just for compensatory damages. Jury wants to award punitive as well #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 18, 2016
Hogan appears to be crying. #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 18, 2016
Gawker founder Nick Denton's statement on the trial outcome. #hulkvsgawk pic.twitter.com/HAkkIbA8zg
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 18, 2016
