Vanessa Bryant more than deserves this settlement. Yesterday, a jury awarded Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, over $16M in a settlement against Los Angeles County because its firefighters and deputies shared gruesome photos of her husband and daughter’s, Gigi Bryant, deaths.
I can’t believe it has taken over TWO YEARS for Vanessa Bryant to get justice for the incompetence and negligence of the Los Angeles County’s firefighters and deputies. I know that the legal process takes a long time and is tedious by nature, but this was a simple case. Either the firefighters and deputies shared the photos of Kobe Bryant and Gigi Bryant, or they didn’t. And since they did, I’m not sure what all of the deliberations was about.
Nevertheless, it is good to see this final chapter of Kobe and Gigi Bryant’s unfortunate and tragic death settled. I’m not a grieving counseling expert and I’ve never experienced such a traumatic incident in my own life, but I can imagine having to listen and relive the events of January 26th, 2020, over again in a court of law wasn’t easy for Vanessa Bryant or her family.
I’m glad for her that this case has been finally settled and she got the justice Kobe and Gigi’s memory deserved.
Yet, the more I think about it, is it really justice? True justice would have been bringing back Kobe Byrant and Gigi Bryant.
This $16M will not bring back her husband and daughter to life, nor will it erase the damage the firefighters and deputies caused by sharing those gruesome photos. This lump sum is more conciliatory than anything. It is an admonition of guilt and negligence in the eyes of the jury on behalf of the Los Angeles County police and fire departments, though it most certainly cannot replace the life and legacy of Kobe and Gigi.
Only Vanessa and her remaining children can carry on and spread the amazing legacy of Kobe Bryant and Gigi Bryant, which Vanessa has done brilliantly so far. Not only has she bravely cared for her remaining children, but also founded the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation for “underserved athletes and boys & girls in sports”. Plus, her lawyer announced that she will donate the $16M settlement to this charity.
In the end, I guess I was wrong about the $16M as Vanessa Bryant has once again shown her wisdom and strength by using the money to better the lives of the underserved and underprivileged, just as Kobe and Gigi Bryant would have wanted. Vanessa Bryant truly is a role model. Mamba Forever!
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