Villanueva and Bryant are among those scheduled to testify. The jury also awarded $15million to Vanessa's co-plaintiff, Chris Chester, who lost his wife and daughter in the crash. CA Firefighters Terminated over Kobe Bryant Crash Photos Also testifying was Gutierrez, the bartender, who said Deputy Joey Cruz showed him cellphone images of the helicopter crash victims. 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.". Kobe Bryant crash photos were shared by deputies as gossip, 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. Thanks for reading. Los Angeles County lawyers have claimed Vanessas lawsuit has no merit, arguing in an April 30 filing that it should be dismissed because the photos were never disseminated to the public. The NTSB determined the probable cause of the crash was pilot error. The Los Angeles County Fire Department planned to terminate the employment of two firefighters and suspend a third for allegedly taking graphic photos at the scene of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and sharing them with their wives and girlfriends, according to court documents filed this week. Kobe Bryant crash pics exchanged by cops playing 'Call of Duty' The sheriff's department initially withheld from the public court file the names of four of the accused deputies, citing concerns they would be targeted for harassment or hacking if publicly identified. Bryant attorney Craig Lavoie asked Gutierrez. Mrs. WebThe legal team for Kobe Bryants widow filed documents in federal court late Monday that include descriptions of photos taken from the scene of a helicopter crash that killed her A deputy showed off the crash site pics to a woman he was trying to impress at a bar, the lawsuit claims. One of them was the bartender to whom LA Sheriff's Deputy Joey Cruz showed photos of Kobe Bryant's body. The plaintiffs are seeking damages for emotional distress. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. At least eight Los Angeles County employees have been accused of taking graphic pictures of the victims damaged bodies with their personal cellphones and circulating the images among colleagues and, in some instances, Handout / National Transportation Safety Board via Getty Images, Mrs. Surveillance footage showed Cruz and Gutierrez greeting each other, as Cruz then showed Gutierrez a series of photos on his phone for under a minute. The Sheriff's Department said Wednesday that "a full administrative investigation was conducted and appropriate administrative action was taken.'' On the second day of Vanessa Bryant's trial against Los Angeles County over improper helicopter crash site photos taken and shared of Kobe and Gianna "Gigi" Bryant, key witnesses who were around when the photos were shown in public addressed the court. The former LA Fire Department captain was present at the scene of the incident and spoke of images that will haunt [him] forever after admitting that he took 25 to 30 photographs of the crash site. Bryant's attorneys then filed an amended lawsuit that listed the names of the deputies Joey Cruz, Rafael Mejia, Michael Russell, and Raul Versales and detailed allegations against each. 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. The May 10, 2021, filing by Bryant's attorneys also included more specific information drawn from a confidential sheriff's department internal affairs report that said the captain of the Malibu-Lost Hills station attempted to stop deputies from deleting the photos, warning they could be violating the law by destroying evidence. Eric Leonard reports for NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on April 15, 2021. Vanessa shared Instagram photos of memorabilia pieces she collected during her late husband's career last year amid the legal drama. A top Los Angeles County coroner on Thursday testified in graphic detail about the state of Kobe Bryant's body following the 2020 helicopter crash that killed all nine passengers, including the basketball legend and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant. Gov. 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.". I love her with every thread of my being.. Two Los Angeles County firefighters were sent discharge notices in December after allegedly taking graphic photos at the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash Shark attack: A California paddle boarder and his dog were thrown into the ocean when a shark bit the board, but both survived the encounter without injuries, The Associated Press reports. Federal safety officials blamed pilot error for the wreck that killed the Los Angeles Lakers basketball star. FireRescue1 is revolutionizing the way the fire service community View our online Press Pack. When Gutierrez told him what Cruz had shared with him, Mendez said he was "in disbelief, disgusted and angry. Among the other items are the Adidas sneakersKobewore during his championship run with theLos AngelesLakers and the champagne-soaked locker room t-shirt he wore after winning the championship in 2001. Enjoy your weekend. I was there. Mendez previously told sheriffs investigators that the bartender, Victor Gutierrez, walked over to their table and shared a story: A bar regular who was a Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy had just shown Gutierrez graphic photos of victims from the crash site. The evidence shows they never were. During testimony Thursday, Gutierrez was often forgetful and told the court that he did not remember most of the conversations he had that night. Tauscher testified that human remains from the crash were scattered over 500 yards, which created an impact zone larger than two football fields while a magnesium fire from the crash was aflame. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Report: Firefighters Also Shared Graphic Images From Scene Of Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, I cant breathe: Patient dies after 5 Calif. FF-medics violate policy, Chief shares details about Calif. firefighters' strip club scandal, Fla. FF files complaint over photo of chief with 'Hitler-style mustache' giving Nazi salute on duty, Video: 6 DCFEMS members placed on leave after physical fight on scene, Open the tools menu in your browser. Sign up for notifications from Insider! The suit claims the Sheriff never gave the family clear answers, and now Vanessa lives in constant fear that the devastating photos will leak to the public. Two key witnesses testified in Vanessa Bryant's trial against LA County on Thursday. Gutierrez said he didn't know why he was making those gestures. Firefighters to be fired in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash scene "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. 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). Kobe and Gianna Bryant were among nine people killed in January 2020 when the helicopter they were riding in flew through thick clouds and crashed into a hillside near Calabasas. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). Representatives from the union that represents firefighters did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' request for comment Wednesday. EIGHT officers from the LA County Sheriff's Department took photos of the grisly crash site where Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were killed, a lawsuit claims. Stay up to date with what you want to know. The National Transportation Safety Board said pilot Ara Zobayan ignored his training when he intentionally flew into blinding clouds at high speed, allowing himself to become susceptible to spatial disorientation. Eric Leonard reports for NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on May 3, 2021. 'Irrational confidence', Stars pay tribute to Stephen Curry after 50-point NBA playoff game, Which teams will reach the NBA conference finals? Leaked graphic pictures of Kobe Bryant and Gigi's bodies 'found His lawsuit says he received photos from people working at the crash site "as is common practice on all major incidents.". WebMrs. Firefighters to Be Fired in Kobe Bryant Crash Photo Scandal: Court 2 LA County firefighters face firing over graphic photos of Kobe "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. Firefighters For other inquiries, Contact Us. The deputies allegedly snapped photos of the dead children, their parents and coaches, according to the lawsuit filed last year by Vanessa Bryant in Los Angeles. The filings propose that a Nov. 16 trial be postponed five months to April 27, 2022, because of a large amount of material that attorneys need to review. The Associated Press contributed to this report. And that's definitely what we do not want.. Vanessa 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. After they settled in, footage showed Gutierrez approaching them and he "sounded very excited," Mendez told the court. The jury also awarded $15million to Vanessa's co-plaintiff, Chris Chester, who lost his wife and daughter in the crash. Capt. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Ron Haralson, declined to comment, citing the pending litigation, and could not confirm whether or not the three firefighters had been fired or disciplined. The captain of the Malibu/Lost Hills sheriff's station, which oversees the area where the crash occurred, pushed back on the decision but was overruled. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Ron Haralson, a spokesperson for the county fire department, declined to comment, citing the lawsuit. Crash photos firefighters graphic. Anyone can read what you share. In Vanessa's lawsuit, she claims Sheriff Alex Villanueva attempted to cover up the misconduct by going to the department substation that responded to the crash and told deputies they'd get off scot-free if they deleted the photos. 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. LA Countys lawyers have now filed a detailed denial of Bryant's claims, in which the county asks a federal judge to dismiss Bryant's case. The filings propose that a Nov. 16 trial be postponed five months to April 27, 2022, because of a large amount of material that attorneys need to review. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Attorneys representing L.A. County have asked the judge to dismiss Bryant's case, arguing that because the photos never made it into the public domain Bryant hasn't suffered any actual harm, and that no invasion of privacy took place. Vanessa's original lawsuit filing also alleges the crash photos were a topic of discussion within the sheriff's department, as deputies allowed their colleagues to see the photos that had no investigative purpose. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Former Los Angeles Fire Department captain and safety officer Brian Jordan was present at the scene of the fatal incident and is one of the first responders accused of taking closely cropped photographs of body parts in the wreckage. The Monday filing by Bryant's attorneys also included more specific information drawn from a confidential sheriff's department internal affairs report that said the captain of the Malibu-Lost Hills station attempted to stop deputies from deleting the photos, warning they could be violating the law by destroying evidence. Attorneys representing L.A. County have asked the judge to dismiss Bryant's case, arguing that because the photos never made it into the public domain, Bryant hasn't suffered any actual harm and that no invasion of privacy took place. Lexipol. Firefighters who took and shared photos of Kobe Bryant crash site None of the three were identified by name,and their employment status was not clear. The two firefighters -- one of whom was at the site solely to monitor safety procedures -- were sent "intention to discharge" letters last December. And that's definitely what we do not want.. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). Soumya Karlamangla, Isabella Grulln Paz and Briana Scalia contributed to California Today. Vanessa Bryant Trial: Coroner Describes What Kobe's Body 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. 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. "There was a Deputy at Baja California Bar and Grill who was at the Kobe Bryant crash site, showing photos of his decapitated body," Mendez wrote in the message, adding to the court that he felt a "sense of betrayal," after hearing what Gutierrez had relayed to him. The county has also worked tirelessly for two and half years to make sure its site photos of the crash were never publicly disseminated. P.S. The third firefighter was suspended, the filing claims without naming any of the involved personnel. What type of human being would laugh at photos of other human beings like that? he said. That's when a bartender overheard the conversation and blew the whistle by reporting the information to the sheriff's department. A fire captain on the scene of the helicopter crash that left Kobe Bryant and eight others dead testified Monday that the trauma of witnessing the accident left him with post-traumatic stress disorder and pushed him to retire. Her suit is seeking punitive damages from county defendants who are accused of taking and sharing crash site photos. The deputies were not named as defendants in the suit. Contact Ellen Durney at ellen.durney@buzzfeed.com. Two Los Angeles sheriff's deputies who shared graphic photos of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed nine people, including NBA star Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, were among the first to publicly express remorse for their role in the county-wide spread of the photos while testifying on Tuesday.. Deputies Joey Cruz and Michael Gutierrez told the court that first, he winced. 2,213 Kobe Bryant Crash Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images Bryant first filed the invasion of privacy lawsuit in state court in September 2020, then moved it to federal court a month later, accusing county employees of having "shown off" photos of the remains of her husband and teenage daughter for no law enforcement purpose. LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. Two Los Angeles County firefighters who allegedly took souvenir photos of victims remains at the scene of Kobe Bryants horrific helicopter crash last year are facing termination, a new court filing claims. At times, it appeared that Cruz and Gutierrez were smiling and laughing after viewing the photos but Gutierrez disputed that interpretation. She stood up and walked out, wiping tears from her eyes. Bryants attorneys have not responded to requests for comment about the lawsuit. All rights reserved.