A Florida jury awarded former professional wrestler Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan even more money in damages in his sex tape case.
The jury originally awarded Bollea $115 million in his suit against the entertainment website Gawker, which acquired and published a sex tape of the former WWE star and his best friend’s then-wife, Heather Cole. And the jury added an additional $25 million in punitive damages Monday, bringing the total to $140 million.
Some of the jury members explained their decision to the media.
One juror spoke to the media. She said she had no sympathy for Gawker, and watching the video cemented her decision. #hulkvsgawk
— Tom Kludt (@TomKludt) March 21, 2016
Just spoke to a juror: asked her if she wanted to send a message to these websites "I think we did"
— Jennifer Titus (@jenntitus10) March 21, 2016
Of the $25 million, the liability was split between Gawker ($15 million), founder Nick Denton ($10 million) and former editor A.J. Daulerio ($100,000).
Heather Dietrick, Gawker’s president and general counsel, released a statement regarding the jury’s decision.
Statement from Gawker: pic.twitter.com/uR0eMvShu0
— Jennifer Titus (@jenntitus10) March 21, 2016
On the flip side, Kenneth Turkel, Bollea’s attorney, explained why he believes it was important for the jury to come to this conclusion.
“The simple message that relates to this case is the line is drawn at publication without consent of a recording of a private act in a private bedroom and you can send that message to Gawker for their conduct in this case and you can send it to the other similarly situated,” Turkel said, via USA TODAY. “And that’s not my language, that’s the language of the law.”
Thumbnail photo via Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports Images
