Throughout the trial, Bollea's lawyers said the former wrestler was in character when he made those remarks. "If the plaintiff were right, that posting a truthful video of him to accompany a commentary can be the basis of a claim, then the Internet as we know it will cease to exist," Gawker attorney Michael Sullivan said in closing statements. Gawker argued Bollea was a public figure who talked openly about his sex life on TV and radio - making the post newsworthy. Millions of people viewed the post before a court order forced the website to take it down.īollea always contended he did not know his former best friend filmed the encounter and claimed Gawker invaded his privacy while simultaneously making money off of him. Daulerio created a 1:41 minute "highlight reel" of the sex tape, added commentary and posted it. Five years later, a 30-minute-long DVD showed up at Gawker's New York offices. That's why we feel very positive about the appeal that we have already begun preparing, as we expect to win the case ultimately."īollea has waged a four-year legal battle against Gawker after they published portions of a recording that showed the wrestler having sex with the former wife of Bollea's then-best friend Bubba "the Love Sponge" Clem.Ĭlem, a Tampa-based shock jock, recorded the liaison in 2007. "I am confident that we would have prevailed at trial if we had been allowed to present the full case to the jury. "Given key evidence and the most important witnesses were both improperly withheld from the jury, we all knew the appeals court will need to resolve the case," the publisher said. Daulerio and Emma Carmichael, defended posting the sex tape excerpt on its website, contending that in the final analysis "the public's right to know trumps privacy."Īfter the verdict was announced, Denton released a statement that said he plans to appeal and that he's confident he and his publication will prevail. Gawker's founder Nick Denton and its former editors, A.J. The jury will reconvene next week to decide upon additional punitive damages.īollea sued Gawker in 2012 for publishing portions of a sex tape between the wrestler and Heather Cole, the former wife of shock jock and the wrestler's then-best friend Bubba "the Love Sponge" Clem. The $115 million in compensatory damages awarded to Bollea Friday is comprised of $55 million in economic injuries and $60 million for emotional distress. The jury's award does not include punitive damages. The jury of four women and two men deliberated just six hours before ruling in favor of Bollea, who cried as the verdict was announced. (CN) - A Florida jury on Friday evening award Terry Bollea, otherwise known as the wrestler Hulk Hogan, $115 million in damages, concluding that Gawker Media, its pubisher and its former editor violated his privacy by publishing an excerpt of a sex tape in which he appeared.
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