Summary: Hulk Hogan was awarded more than he sought in the privacy lawsuit but is now wishing the jury had awarded him more for his economic and emotional distress.
Despite being awarded $140 million in damages by a jury, Hulk Hogan wants more. The award for the privacy lawsuit against entertainment website Gawker was a record amount that can easily be seen as an example for other sites to be cautious in attempting similar antics.
The former professional wrestler was given $115 million by the six member jury before awarding an additional $25 million to Hogan. The jury claims they have “absolutely no doubt” that they made the right decision in awarding record damages in the sex-tape trial. They hope to set an warning to other media companies.
Read Hulk Hogan’s $115 Million Judgment May Ruin Gawker, Change Celebrity News.
Hogan stated, “I think the public feels the same way I did. Is it a big enough number? Maybe not, but it should be a deterrent for anybody else who ever tries to do anything like this, not to do it, that you will be held accountable.”
Jury member Paula Eastman explained, “As human beings, we collectively said, you know…if we were all in the same circumstances, how would we feel about it, and, emotionally, we would have all been really devastated.” The jury has been very open in discussing their dislike of Gawker and its founder Nick Denton. He showed no remorse for posting the sex tape on his website, telling the court “It is a story we would do again.”
See Jury for Hulk Hogan Lawsuit Enters Deliberations.
The turning point for the jury during the trial was when they saw the clip posted. They stated the intimacy of the conversation Hogan was engaged in made it clear to them that he was unaware that he was being taped. As juror Salina Stevens stated, “I believe his privacy was violated and that’s not OK.”
Denton has been ordered to personally pay $10 million of the award. Denton is estimated to be worth $121 million while the website is only valued at $83 million. Gawker Media Group is valued at $276 million. The former editor of the site that posted the video was ordered to pay $100,000 of his money despite having no assets and owing $27,000 in student loans.
Photo: capitalnewyork.com