First Erin Andrews gets a $55M award from a jury in her lawsuit over a privacy breach while a hotel guest, and now Hulk Hogan gets a $115M jury award in his lawsuit against Gawker over a sex tape they made public.
I think the public may be finding its voice on the value of personal privacy and sending a strong message. Eriq Gardner sums up one key part of the case this way:
Ultimately, the case became a battle — at least indirectly —between the First Amendment, guaranteeing free speech and a free press, and the Fourteenth Amendment, where courts have determined that a right to privacy derives under equal protection of life, liberty and property. Like many states, Florida has enacted statutes that guard against intrusions on seclusion and privacy of communications. Hogan also won on his right of publicity claim.
I’m sure we’ll see lots of coverage – and legal analysis – of this case in the weeks and months to come.
And of course, Gawker is appealing it.
Update: Here’s the NY Time’s coverage with Gawker’s statement on the case. Hulk Hogan tweeted these responses:
Thank you God for justice,only love 4Life. HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) March 19, 2016
and
Told ya I was gonna slam another giant HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) March 19, 2016