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.". The two firefighters -- one of whom was at the site solely to monitor safety procedures -- were sent "intention to discharge" letters last December. "Seeing someone you love in that state would create an image that stays with them forever.". 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. Vanessa Bryant arrives at Federal Court to testify 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 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. County lawyers claim that Bryants case lacks merit, citing the fact that the graphic images were never leaked to the media. The county does not condone this showing of accident site photographs and has taken corrective personnel actions accordingly, the filing in the legal battle playing out in federal court argued. Vanessa filed her lawsuit last year, claiming no fewer than eight sheriffs deputies at the crash site pulled out their personal cell phones and snapped photos of the dead children, parents and coaches on Jan. 26, 2020. Last March, U.S. District Court Judge John F. Walter ruled against the county and allowed the deputies' names to be published. 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. Jordan went on to say that he could not recall details about the day due to memory issues. The NTSB determined the probable cause of the crash was pilot error. Another was the man who reported Cruz after the bartender told him what he had just seen. Gutierrez told the court that first, he winced. 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. 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. Chris Chester, whose wife, Sarah, and daughter Payton died in the crash, is also suing county workers on the same claims and will have a consolidated nine-day trial alongside Bryant's against the county. "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. Villanueva and Bryant are among those scheduled to testify. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. 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.". Soumya Karlamangla, Isabella Grulln Paz and Briana Scalia contributed to California Today. She lives in fear that she or her children will one day confront horrific images of their loved ones online., Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images, The fourth day of proceedings got underway on Monday, with a number of. The third firefighter received an "intention to suspend" letter. Anyone can read what you share. Included among the keepsakes are theNBAstar's high school jersey and warmups, which she said their family didn't get back until 2013. On January 26, 2020, a helicopter transporting Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, and the baseball coach John Altobelli and his family crashed near Malibu, California, as they were heading to a girls basketball game. LOS ANGELES -- Two Los Angeles County firefighters could be fired and a third suspended after some first responders took and shared graphic photos from the site of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his teenage daughter and seven others, court documents say. "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 two firefighters -- one of whom was at the site solely to monitor safety procedures -- were sent "intention to discharge" letters last December. Capt. 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.". For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Vanessa Bryant filed a lawsuit against the LAPD Sheriff for inappropriate photos of Kobe and Gianna's death site in 2020, The photos reportedly show the bodies of the NBA legend, his daughter, and seven others who died in the crash, Deputies allegedly allowed their colleagues to see the photos that had no investigative purpose, At least eight deputies allegedly snapped photos of the dead children, their parents and coaches, according to the lawsuit, An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board examines the plane wreckage, LAPD Sheriff Alex Villanueva allegedly didn't tell the victims' families about the images, Vanessa claims in her filing, Charred parts from the doomed helicopter that crashed into a mountainside in Calabasas, Victim's families only learned of the scandal in the media after the story broke, the lawsuit claims, A search helicopter lands near the site where Kobe's Mamba Chopper crashed, Authorities search the scene for clues through thick plumes of smoke, Local fire crews assisted in the search for all nine victims' bodies, Vanessa shared Instagram photos of Kobe memorabilia that she collected throughout his career, She posed for a photo wearing her late husband's team jacket, Kobe's wife took a '#Keepsake' selfie in his high school basketball warm-up jacket, A photo of the jersey worn by Kobe during the 2001 NBA Finals, the year he and the Lakers won the championship, Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were killed in a helicopter crash in California on January 26, Seven others died alongside the NBA legend and his daughter, Vanessa Bryant paystribute to her late husband Kobe and daughter with two new tattoos, askingVanessato undergo a psychiatric evaluation, showed off the crash site pics to a woman he was trying to impress, they'd get off scot-free if they deleted the photos, shared Instagram photos of memorabilia pieces, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). LOOK: Firefighters and sheriffs work the scene of a helicopter crash that killed former NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant, Sunday, in Calabasas, Calif. | AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill https:// inq.news/RIPKobe Well be sharing more in upcoming editions of the newsletter. 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. 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. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 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. ", 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. Sign up for notifications from Insider! 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. "The Labyrinth," an environmental sculpture at the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden. 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. There is no legal basis for suing defendants for hypothetical harm, the paperwork said. "He (Cruz) had the public's trust riding on his shoulders," Mendez told the court. CA Firefighters Terminated over Kobe Bryant Crash Photos The deputies were not named as defendants in the suit. Los Angeles County attorneys have argued that there is no legal basis for Vanessa Bryant's lawsuit because the photos were not publicly disseminated. Fire 'Irrational confidence', Stars pay tribute to Stephen Curry after 50-point NBA playoff game, Which teams will reach the NBA conference finals? A songwriter and his sister take on a Hollywood hills fixer-upper. WebReport: Firefighters Also Shared Graphic Images From Scene Of Helicopter Crash That Killed Kobe Brya. A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Capt. IE 11 is not supported. The Sheriff's Department said Wednesday that "a full administrative investigation was conducted and appropriate administrative action was taken.'' Firefighters to Be Fired in Kobe Bryant Crash Photo Scandal: Court Two other victims families settled for $1.25 million each last year. That's when a bartender overheard the conversation and blew the whistle by reporting the information to the sheriff's department. Copyright 2023 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. Tauscher painted a gruesome picture of the crash site, offering detailed insight into the grisly scene that would've been captured in the photos. The bill now heads to the Senate floor. and suppliers. County officials have not denied that Cruz shared the photos at the bar, saying the young trainee's behavior was a "lapse." His lawsuit says he received photos from people working at the crash site "as is common practice on all major incidents.". WebAt issue: graphic victim photos taken on personal cellphones by emergency workers at the helicopter crash site in which nine people died, including the retired Los Angeles Lakers Both of the employees sent their graphic photos to a third fire department employee who was on site to assist with press briefings, the filing claims. WebMay 13, 2021. Two Los Angeles County firefighters were sent discharge notices in December after allegedly taking graphic photos at the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash The kitchen has cabinets from Reform and Calacatta Arabescato marble surfaces. The plaintiffs are seeking damages for emotional distress. The Sheriff, Alex Villanueva spoke to the media in Los Angeles [] as well as other partner offers and accept our. Kobe Bryant: Crash photos firefighters graphic 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. L.A. County's top fire official took the stand in the federal trial concerning gruesome photos taken at the scene of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others. Gavin Newsom last year signed a law that makes it a crime for first responders to take unauthorized photos of deceased people at the scene of an accident or crime. The couple climbed to the top of an extra-wide slide, where two witnesses signed their marriage license using the newlyweds backs as hard surfaces. 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. The family room was expanded by pushing out the back wall and eliminating columns. Firefighter Accused Of Photographing Kobe Bryant Body Walked Ron Haralson, a spokesperson for the county fire department, declined to comment, citing the lawsuit.