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A Los Angeles jury has awarded $31 million to plaintiffs Vanessa Bryant and Chris Chester.

After deliberating for several hours on Wednesday, the jury reached their conclusion, concluding that the LASD and LAFD had indeed shared images of the deceased loved ones of Bryant and Chris.

For her agony and suffering, the jury awarded Vanessa $10 million from the LASD ($2.5 million now and $7.5 million in the future) and awarded Chris $9 million.

However, the LAFD has been ordered to pay each of the victims $6 million to compensate for their past and future suffering.

The verdict was handed down on Kobe Bryant Day (also known as Mamba Day) in tribute to the late Los Angeles Lakers great, who wore jersey numbers 8 and 24.

After the attorneys for Los Angeles County delivered their emotional closing arguments, the trial was called off only hours later.

Since it began on August 10, the trial has revealed disturbing new information concerning the aftermath of the January 2020 helicopter tragedy that claimed the lives of NBA superstar Gianna Bryant, then 13 years old, and seven others.

After finding that personnel of the department had shared photographs of the victims’ remains, Vanessa and Chris Chester, who tragically lost his wife Sarah and their 13-year-old daughter Payton in the crash, sued Los Angeles County for emotional pain and mental suffering. Kobe and Gianna were two of eight people in the helicopter when it crashed on the way to a youth basketball game.

As far as Chris and Vanessa are concerned, at least 28 LASD-owned devices and more than a dozen rescuers made public images of the victims’ bodies.

One of the first witnesses to testify in the lengthy trial was former bartender Victor Gutierrez. On Thursday, Gutierrez said that during his bartending shift on January 26, 2020, sheriff’s deputy trainee Joey Cruz approached him and asked if he wanted to view a photo of the victim’s bodies.

Ralph Mendez Jr., another customer of the club, testified to the jury about his experience there, saying he saw the incident unfold and reported it to the police.

The 40-year-old widow testified that on the morning of the disaster she went to the Lost Hills Sheriff Station to urge Sheriff Alex Villanueva to keep the paparazzi away from the site of the crash in Calabasas. “Please lock this place down if you can’t bring my babies back.” She remembered telling Villanueva at the police station, as Vanessa put it.

Just three days later, on February 27, 2020, a piece in the Los Angeles Times revealed claims of photo sharing among first responders. During her testimony, the grieving mother stated, “I trusted them not to do these things,” adding that she was furious with the sheriff’s and fire department’s lack of communication.

 The body of Kobe Bryant was found the day of the accident, while that of Gianna, a his daughter and basketball player for the Mamba Sports Academy who aspired to play in the WNBA, was discovered in a gully the following day.

A wave of sorrow washed over the courtroom as Vanessa accused individuals who had taken photos of Gianna’s body of “taking advantage that her daddy wasn’t there to protect her.”

She revealed that he had been located at a morgue.

As for Vanessa, she described the day she found out about Kobe and Gianna’s murders, claiming that she knew something was wrong when the family’s secretary, Kate, kept knocking on the door around 11:30 a.m.

Chris testified that after his texts to Payton and Sarah went unanswered, he learned of the crash while driving to the Lost Hills sheriff’s station.

He believed Payton and Sarah were still alive but injured, as he recounted, “plenty of things were going through my thoughts, but I assumed I was headed to a hospital.” He noted that the station was unusually silent and that he was “beginning to get an eerie vibe.”

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An appeal has been filed challenging the Russian court’s verdict sentencing WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison for smuggling drugs into Russia, Griner’s lawyer says days after the Russian government confirmed for the first time discussions about a potential prisoner swap involving a convicted Russian arms dealer.

Concerns have been made that Griner is being exploited as a political pawn in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, despite the fact that the US State Department insists she has been illegally jailed. In an effort to return her home safely, US officials have proposed a prisoner swap.

Russian Foreign Ministry North American Department Director Alexander Darchiev told Russian state media TASS on Saturday that the name of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout has come up in bilateral negotiations between Moscow and Washington over a prisoner swap involving Griner and American Paul Whelan.

paraphrases Darchiev he said “This extremely delicate subject involving the exchange of convicted Russian and American nationals is being considered through the channels established by our respective presidents. There is talk about these people. The Russian side has been pressing for Viktor Bout’s freedom for quite some time. From the premise of “do no harm,” it’s best to let experts handle the specifics.

“We continue to encourage Russia to free unjust detainees Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan,” a US State Department official said on Monday. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, “There was a major plan on the table weeks ago to expedite their release.”

“We will not go into detail of what we presented to the Russians,” the official continued.

For espionage-related reasons, Russia has been holding Whelan since 2018. Griner’s appeal might take anything from a few weeks to a couple of months. Maria Blagovolina, a partner of Rybalkin Gortsunyan Dyakin & Partners and Griner’s attorney.

According to Alexander Boykov of the Moscow Legal Center, who represents Griner, the appeal of the verdict and any subsequent prisoner swap negotiations take place separately.

“It should not affect them. This is a part of legal process. Prisoner talks come through diplomatic channels. Since the appeal could be withdrawn any time before the actual hearing, there’s no reason for Russian government to wait,” he said.

According to those familiar with the situation, the US Justice Department fought against the trade of Bout throughout months of internal conversations among US agencies. Justice Department officials, however, came to realize that a Bout trade would be supported by the White House and the State Department, including Vice President Joe Biden, according to many credible sources.

The Russian government has regularly brought up Bout as a possible deal for several Americans. Bout’s lawyer has expressed “confidence” that the trade will take place.

Griner, 31 at the time, was stopped in February for transporting cannabis oil in vape cartridges. Two-time U.S. Olympic basketball gold champion pleads guilty to drug charges, saying she hurriedly packed the medications by mistake.

Judge Anna Sotnikova of the city court in Khimki issued Griner’s nine-year term and punishment of almost $16,400 on August 4. She explained that the court took into account Griner’s partial acknowledgment of guilt, remorse for the deed, health, and humanitarian works.

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Bill Russell, an NBA star who guided the Boston Celtics to 11 titles, died on Sunday. 88-year-old

Russell’s relatives said he died peacefully with his wife by his side. No cause of death was given.

The 6’10” former center dominated the NBA as a defensive and rebounding juggernaut for 13 years, winning five MVPs and becoming a 12-time all-star. In his last three years as a player, he coached the Celtics, leading them to two more titles. First Black league head coach.

Adam Silver, NBA commissioner, said Russell “stood for something broader than sports: equality, respect, and inclusion.”

“For nearly 35 years since Bill completed his trailblazing career as the league’s first Black head coach, we were fortunate to see him at every major NBA event, including the NBA Finals, where he presented the Bill Russell Trophy to the Finals MVP,” Silver said in a statement Sunday. “Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever.”

Russell’s relatives said his “knowledge of the battle brightened his life”

“Bill called out injustice with an unforgiving candor that he intended would disrupt the status quo, and with a powerful example that, though never his humble intention, will forever inspire teamwork, selflessness and thoughtful change,” the family said. “Perhaps you’ll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded. And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill’s uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle. That would be one last, and lasting, win for our beloved #6.”

Basketball writers selected Russell the finest NBA player in 1980. He’s the sport’s most prolific winner and an epitome of selflessness, winning with defense and rebounding while others scored. Wilt Chamberlain was often Russell’s sole worthy competitor.

Russell won 11 championships to two.

The Louisiana native made a name as a Black athlete in a city and country where race is a flashpoint. He attended the March on Washington in 1963 when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” address and defended Muhammad Ali when the boxer was criticized for resisting the draft.

Obama gave Russell the Medal of Freedom in 2011 together with John Lewis, Warren Buffett, Angela Merkel, and Stan Musial.

Obama: “Bill Russell stood out for men’s rights and dignity.” “He marched with King and Ali. He declined to play when a restaurant wouldn’t serve the Black Celtics. He experienced insults and vandalism, but he focused on making his teammates better and helped many succeed.

Obama said Sunday that as tall as Bill Russell was, his legacy is even taller – as a player and a person.

Bill knew how to win and lead better than anyone. He was basketball’s greatest champion. Off-court, he was a civil rights pioneer,” Obama wrote.

Biden hailed Russell a “tall champion for freedom, equality, and justice”

“From a segregated youth in Louisiana to a career on the grandest sporting stages during the Civil Rights Movement, Bill confronted racism’s animosity and venom. Biden wrote, “He never gave up.” “His life was filled with unpleasant truths. Generations of Americans reflect on what he meant to them as someone who played for the notion that everyone deserves decency and respect.

Russell’s parents instilled in him the calm confidence he needed to ignore racist comments in the segregated South and California.

Years later, people asked Russell what he went undergone. “I’ve never been through anything. From birth, I knew my parents loved me. Russell’s mother told him to ignore yard-watchers’ comments.

“They don’t know you,” she told him. “They battle demons”

“Jackie was a hero to us,” Russell said of Robinson. Always a gentleman. He taught me how to be a sportsman.

Rachel Robinson invited Russell to be a pallbearer during her husband’s funeral in 1972.

How can you become Jackie Robinson’s hero? “Russell” “I’m honored.”

William Felton Russell was born in Louisiana in 1934. His family migrated to the West Coast when he was young, and he attended Oakland High School and UC San Francisco. In 1955 and 1956, he led the Dons to NCAA titles and won gold in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

Red Auerbach so wanted Russell that he traded the second choice in the draft to the St. Louis Hawks. He offered the Rochester Royals, who had the No. 1 pick, a lucrative Ice Capades visit. Russell was criticized when he landed in Boston.

“People thought I wasted a draft pick and money,” he recalled. “‘He’s no good,’ they said. Only blocks and rebounds. Red said, “Enough!”

The Celtics also drafted Russell’s college teammate K.C. Jones. Boston ended with the league’s best record despite Russell’s late arrival.

In double-overtime, the Celtics beat Bob Pettit’s St. Louis Hawks to win their first of 17 NBA titles. The next season, Russell won MVP, but the Hawks prevailed in a rematch. In 1959, the Celtics won again, beginning an NBA-record eight-peat.

Russell averaged more rebounds than points in each of his 13 seasons. He averaged 20 rebounds for 10 seasons. Chamberlain owns the record with 55 rebounds.

Russell became the first Black head coach in NBA history, over a decade before Frank Robinson took over the Cleveland Indians. Boston had the greatest regular-season record in the NBA, but Chamberlain and the 76ers interrupted its title streak.

Russell led the Celtics to titles in 1968 and 1969, both against Chamberlain. Russell retired after the 1969 finals, then coached the Seattle SuperSonics for four years and the Sacramento Kings for half a season.

1972: Celtics retire Russell’s No. 6 jersey. He made the NBA’s 25th, 35th, and 75th anniversary teams. 1996 named one of NBA’s 50 best players. He was voted NBA Finals MVP in 2009.

Boston’s City Hall Plaza has a statue of Russell surrounded by granite slabs with leadership and character phrases. Russell was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 but didn’t attend, stating he shouldn’t have been the first black player. Chuck Cooper was his pick.

Russell received his Hall of Fame ring in 2019. “I thought others should have had it,” he tweeted. “Good to see progress.”

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