ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – A jury has sided with ex-pro wrestler Hulk Hogan and awarded him $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media.
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Publisher Nick Denton, confident on his appeal.Gawker pHulk Hogan in court during his trial.
“Given the key evidence and the most important witness in this case were withheld from the jury, we all knew the appeals court will need to resolve the case”, Denton said in a statement.
“That’s why I feel very positive about the appeal we’ve already been preparing. This is not only his victory today, but also anyone else who’s been victimized by tabloid journalism”, said Hogan’s lawyer, David Houston, outside the courtroom.
“It is a staggering verdict to say the least”, said Pierce O’Donnell of Greenberg Glusker. This awarded amount by the jury is much more than – $15 million more – Hogan had asked for in the sex tape lawsuit against Gawker. Ms. Cole’s husband initially stated that Hogan gave his consent, but later renigged on that statement and said that Hulk did not know he was being taped.
Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, testified that he still suffered from the humiliation of the video going viral.
Gawker’s legal team, which had argued that posting the video was protected by the First Amendment, appeared to have anticipated a costly verdict.
Gawker, known for its acerbic tone and aggressive coverage of celebrities, maintained that Mr Hogan’s private life was newsworthy because he made it part of his public persona.
“With a click and upload, it turned this man’s life upside down”, Hogan attorney Kenneth Turkel said.
Court resumes at 9 a.m. Friday after Judge Pamela Campbell sent jurors home early Thursday while lawyers for Hogan, Gawker and media companies discussed evidence issues.
“The case, which pitted freedom of the press against a celebrity’s right to privacy, has been closely watched”, the BBC reported. “You don’t see graphic sex acts in vivid detail”, argued Michael Sullivan, attorney for Gawker, in court.
“I’m torn, my family is torn”, Hogan said, describing the effect of the video on him and his family.
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Gawker said the posting was in keeping with the outlet’s mission to cover true and interesting subjects, insisting Hogan had made his sex life a public matter.
