Melody is the one I want to be with in these apocalyptic times, Kickingstone told The New York Times. H6 Radio Straps Decon Comfort Functionality, Documents related to the lawsuit filed by widow Vanessa Bryant reveals two firefighters were terminated in December and another was suspended. A few days after the January 2020 crash, Raphael Mendez Jr. walked into the Baja California Bar and Grill in Norwalk with his teammates after a softball game, based on testimony I covered Thursday. The Los Angeles County Fire Department said, while it has no confirmed A private citizen said he felt a "sense of betrayal" when a Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputy showed grisly photos of Kobe Bryant's dead body to a bartender, who went table-to-table telling patrons and employees about what he had just seen. In hisMarch 2020 interview with NBC News, Villanueva said he was focused on containing the potential distribution of the photos. Capt. WebAn institutional culture of callousness led Los Angeles county deputies and firefighters to shoot and share photos of the remains of Kobe Bryant and other victims of the 2020 David Katz, the team leader of LASD Malibu Search and Rescue, previously testified Doug Johnson, an LASD deputy, had alone taken hundreds of photos with his cellphone. Gavin Newsom last year signed a law that makes it a crime for first responders to take unauthorized photos of deceased people at the scene of an accident or crime. 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. Tauscher testified that the coroner's office took about 1,250 photos of the crash site, about 300 of which were of human remains. 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. The Sheriff, Alex Villanueva spoke to the media in Los Angeles [] Soumya Karlamangla, Isabella Grulln Paz and Briana Scalia contributed to California Today. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). 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. Kobes widow Vanessa Bryant has sued the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department, the Fire Department, the county and eight police officers, Vanessa shared Instagram photos of memorabilia pieces she collected during her late husband's career last year amid the legal drama. During San Francisco Pride in June, Melody Sage, who is queer, and Rosco Kickingstone, a transgender man, tied the knot. All rights reserved. Ron Haralson, declined to comment, citing the pending litigation, and could not confirm whether or not the three firefighters had been fired or disciplined. WebEIGHT 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. The third firefighter was said to be a media relations officer sent to the scene to interact with the press, the court document said. Kobe and Gigi were on their way to the Mamba Academy for basketball practice when the private helicopter went down in the Calabasas mountains northwest of Los Angeles. 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. A deputy showed off the crash site pics to a woman he was trying to impress at a bar, the lawsuit claims. 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 Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. USA Todayreports the filings read: "Despite putting their mental condition front and center in this case, Plaintiffs refuse to submit to independent medical examinations (IMEs). Bryant first filed the invasion of privacy lawsuit in state court in September, 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. Her suit is seeking punitive damages from county defendants who are accused of taking and sharing crash site photos. I was disappointed, disgusted and angry.. Los Angeles County attorneys have argued that there is no legal basis for Vanessa Bryant's lawsuit because the photos were not publicly disseminated. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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.". As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Lexipol. The family room was expanded by pushing out the back wall and eliminating columns. None of the three were identified by name,and their employment status was not clear. Firefighters could lose jobs for Kobe crash photos, 'It's going to be epic': Stephen Curry and LeBron James face off -- again, Curry sets G7 record with 50 as Dubs move on, Hobbled Butler serves as 'decoy' late in Heat win, Grizz's Brooks doesn't regret verbal jab at LeBron, 'This one's on me': Brunson self-critical after loss, Jokic on Murray's playoffs: 'We are following him', Rivers: Embiid likely doubtful for G1 vs. Celtics, How do Stephen Curry and the Warriors keep doing this?! The two firefighters -- one of whom was at the site solely to monitor safety procedures -- were sent "intention to discharge" letters last December. The Associated Press contributed to this report. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Vanessa Bryant is suing Los Angeles County, saying that her privacy was invaded when sheriffs deputies and firefighters privately shared photos of the fatal scene. It shed more light on how one of the citizen complaintsabout the photos materialized. Please stop describing the scene to me, he, Please refrain from taking my brain back to that crash site, he, Throughout his testimony, Jordan grew increasingly frustrated when probed about the specific details of his actions and even walked away from the stand on three occasions, according to, Jordan left the courtroom for the first time, accompanied by his lawyer, after being asked if he had photographed Kobes body at the scene, prompting him to rise from his seat saying: I need a break, I need a break., I had an image in my head that was not pleasant, he, When asked whether he photographed the remains of 13-year-old Gianna, Jordan, Prior to the trial, Jordan had made efforts to. The county does not condone this showing of accident site photographs and has taken corrective personnel actions accordingly, the filing in the legal battle playing out in federal court argued. "What someone looks like in death is very different than in life," she said. 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. Tauscher, a key witness for Bryant and Chester, delivered exceptionally detailed and graphic testimony about the post-crash condition of each victim's body, providing jurors with a mental image of what photos of the site would show. On August 24, 2022, a unanimous jury determined that Los Angeles County must pay Vanessa $16million over the photos. Two other victims families settled for $1.25 million each last year. New court filings allege that dozens of public employees were aware of grisly imagery in Kobe Bryant crash photo lawsuit. Emily Tauscher, the head of investigations at the LA County coroner's office, took center stage on the second day of the trial between Vanessa Bryant and Los Angeles County. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. That's when a bartender overheard the conversation and blew the whistle by reporting the information to the sheriff's department. Imbrenda did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. 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. He returned home and drafted a complaint to the LASD in his driveway before he even entered his home because he "had to sleep well that night.". Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? The evidence shows they never were. Last March, U.S. District Court Judge John F. Walter ruled against the county and allowed the deputies' names to be published. WebTwo 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 Our experts predict every series, 2023 NBA playoffs: Second-round series, Finals, MVP odds, 'He looks better than ever': Why the Orlando bubble was 'just the beginning' for Jamal Murray, Memphis wasn't 'fine in the West' -- getting there hinges on massive culture questions, 'Help the bear': LeBron James trolls Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies, Why the Lakers' real test begins now, after dispatching the No. Federal safety officials blamed pilot error for the wreck that killed the Los Angeles Lakers basketball star. WebBy Eric Leonard and Andrew Blankstein The Los Angeles County Fire Department planned to terminate the employment of two firefighters and suspend a third for allegedly taking Vanessa filed her lawsuit last year, claiming no fewer than eight sheriffs deputies at the crash site pulled out their personal cell phones and snapped photos of the dead children, parents and coaches on Jan. 26, 2020. 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. Email your suggestions to CAtoday@nytimes.com. Lawyers representing Los Angeles County said that taking photographs of fatal crime and accident scenes was common practice for investigative and information-sharing purposes, and that no crash site photos had ever been distributed publicly because, in part, all county personnel deleted the images from their phones and they cannot be recovered. 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. 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. The deputies finds relevant news, identifies important training information, 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. WebEIGHT 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. Gavin Newsom last year signed a law that makes it a crime for first responders to take unauthorized photos of deceased people at the scene of an accident or crime. WebMrs. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 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. Villanueva told NBC News inMarch 2020the behavior was "inexcusable," "inappropriate" and "unconscionable," and said the deputies were immediately ordered to delete the images. Solitary confinement bill: The state Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday passed Assembly Bill 2632, which would restrict the use of solitary confinement. The Associated Press contributed to this report. She can't sue for a "hypothetical harm" that they might be shared publicly, the county said in filings. Vanessa Bryant, center, the widow of Kobe Bryant, leaves a federal courthouse in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. Several Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies -- none of whom were directly involved in the investigation of the crash -- are also included in the lawsuit because they are accused of taking or passing around the grisly photos with family, friends and, in one case, a bar patron and a bartender who later complained to the sheriff's department. The Garden has lots of trails, and many are accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. For Mendez, that interaction was enough to file a citizen complaint. The third firefighter received an "intention to suspend" letter. Los Angeles County attorneys have argued that there is no legal basis for Vanessa Bryant's lawsuit because the photos were not publicly disseminated. Gutierrez told the court that first, he winced. During his testimony, Gutierrez said he remembered briefly seeing graphic images, but could not recall telling anyone else including Mendez about what he had seen. The reports said the firefighters had snapped images of victims remains that served no business necessity and instead only served to appeal to baser instincts and desires for what amounted to visual gossip, the paperwork states. "Yes," Gutierrez said, adding that he did not know if there were others in the photos because "there were just parts.". Rent hikes: Large rent increases are coming for many Los Angeles tenants despite state and local laws meant to stop landlords from passing on huge increases, The LAist reports. Plaintiffs cannot claim that they are suffering from ongoing depression, anxiety and severe emotional distress and then balk at having to support their claims., Vanessas attorneys slammed the request, calling out the county for trying to force the evaluations on all of the surviving family, including four teenagers, a 10-year-old child, and a 5-year-old kindergartener., The lawyers added in their response filings: "The County has resorted to scorched-earth discovery tactics designed to bully Plaintiffs into abandoning their pursuit of accountability.". Anyone can read what you share. All nine people aboard, including the pilot, Ara Zobayan, died in the crash. FILE In this Jan. 26, 2020, photo, firefighters work the scene of a helicopter crash where former NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant died in Calabasas. Eric Leonard reports for NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on April 15, 2021. The court documents were filed Monday as part of widow Vanessa Bryant's federal lawsuit against Los Angeles County that alleges invasion of privacy. Gutierrez told the court. Villanueva allegedly didn't tell the victims' families about the images - their loved ones only learned of the scandal in the media after the story broke, according to the lawsuit. Many social media users have claimed to have seen photos of the victims remains, and their accounts are plausible given the number of deputies who took photos, the ease with which cellphone pictures are transmitted and saved in cloud storage, and the Sheriffs Departments egregious failure to take reasonable steps to prevent dissemination of the photos.. The two firefighters were sent "intention to discharge" letters last December after a fire department internal investigation concluded they had taken photos of the dead bodies in the helicopter wreckage that "served no business necessity" and "only served to appeal to baser instincts and desires for what amounted to visual gossip," Bryant's attorneys said in a declaration in support of delaying the lawsuit trial to allow time for additional investigation. Imbrenda did, however, hand over his department cellphone and laptop, the Times reported. Villanueva and Bryant are among those scheduled to testify. Sheriff Alex Villanueva condemned the deputies' behavior and, in a move that has since been heavily criticized, ordered them to delete the photos. In September 2020, Vanessa Bryantsued the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the county's fire department, the county as a whole, and eight officers in the wake of reports that first responders took and shared photos of the January 2020 crash site. In September 2020, Bryant sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the county's fire department, the county as a whole, and eight officers in the wake of reports reported on by the LA Times that first responders took and shared photos of the January 2020 crash site. The employment status of all three was not immediately clear Wednesday. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for fire service professionals worldwide. WebThe Los Angeles County Fire Department will reportedly fire two firefighters for their role in sharing the graphic photos from Kobe Bryants death. Federal safety officials determined in February that pilot error that was likely exacerbated by self-induced pressure to please a celebrity client caused the tragedy. They then sent the photos to a third firefighter -- a media relations officer who went to the scene and later shared the images with off-duty firefighters and their wives and girlfriends while socializing at an awards ceremony at a Hilton hotel the month after the crash. Kobe Bryant and the others were killed Jan. 26, 2020, when the helicopter they were aboard crashed west of Los Angeles. Cruz, then a 4-month trainee of the LASD, had responded to the helicopter crash site on January 26, 2020, where nine people died. Kobe Bryant crash: Los Angeles 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.". Here's How They're Doing It, How SNL Star Ego Nwodim Brought Lisa From Temecula' to Life, Women Found Dead Near Railroad in Carson Identified, Hollywood Braces for Possible Writers Strike as Talks Continue. 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. Tony Imbrenda filed a retaliation lawsuit in November. Todays tip comes from Carolyn Chaney, who recommends the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden: The Garden is filled with native California plants, including a stand of magnificent redwoods and a section devoted to the Channel Islands (with a great view most days). Also testifying was Gutierrez, the bartender, who said Deputy Joey Cruz showed him cellphone images of the helicopter crash victims. Villanueva allegedly didn't tell the victims' families about the images - their loved ones only learned of the scandal in the media after the story broke, according to the lawsuit. Kobe's wife sued the LAPD sheriff after the graphic photos showed the remains of the NBA star and eight others who died in the helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. Ron Haralson, a spokesperson for the county fire department, declined to comment, citing the lawsuit. The third firefighter was suspended, the filing claims without naming any of the involved personnel. The NBA icon and his 13-year-old daughter tragically died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. 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. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Mrs. She offered insight into the grisly scene to give a sense of what photos of the site would show. 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. His lawsuit says he received photos from people working at the crash site "as is common practice on all major incidents.". One of them was the bartender to whom LA Sheriff's Deputy Joey Cruz showed photos of Kobe Bryant's body. She stood up and walked out, wiping tears from her eyes. The county continues to express its deepest sympathies for the families that suffered this terrible loss, county lawyer Mira Hashmall told, The county has also worked tirelessly for two and half years to make sure its site photos of the crash were never publicly disseminated, the statement said. The lawsuit says that by sharing the photos, those involved including the deputy at the bar and firefighters weeks later at an awards banquet violated the victims families constitutional rights to control images of their loved ones remains. 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. Imbrenda did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Two key witnesses testified in Vanessa Bryant's trial against LA County on Thursday. Gavin Newsom unveiled a new strategy to collect and store more water, recycle more wastewater, and desalinate seawater and salty groundwater to address the states long-term drought problems, The Associated Press reports. County officials have not denied that Cruz shared the photos at the bar, saying the young trainee's behavior was a "lapse." Andrew Blankstein is an investigative reporterfor NBC News. Bryant, sitting in the courtroom, repeatedly wiped away tears and, at times, held her head in her hands. Vanessa Bryant arrives at Federal Court to testify Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). The Sheriff's Department said Wednesday that "a full administrative investigation was conducted and appropriate administrative action was taken.'' 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. Joining Bryant in the lawsuit against Los Angeles County is Chris Chester, whose wife, Sarah, 45, and daughter, Payton, 13, were among the victims of the crash on the morning of Jan. 26, 2020. On August 24, 2022, a unanimous jury determined that Los Angeles County must pay Vanessa $16million over the photos. Thursdays witnesses included the Lakers general manager, Rob Pelinka, who spoke about the Bryant familys distress. "Did you see a person you understood to be Kobe Bryant in the photos that Cruz showed you?" 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. Heres todays Mini Crossword, and a clue: Gush forth (4 letters). Lexipol. "The deputies took these photos for their own personal gratification.". The Garden is dog friendly (pets on leash) with greeters who offer dog treats. They maintain the photos did not spread from outside the bar and were deleted shortly after. Mendez went home and, from his parked car in his driveway, sent a complaint through the Sheriffs Department website. Ellen Durney is a Celebrity News Fellow for BuzzFeed News and is based in London. 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. WebTwo Los Angeles County firefighters were terminated and one was suspended over the taking and distributing of graphic photographs from the helicopter crash that killed Seven other passengers were also killed in the fiery crash. You must enable JavaScript in your browser to view and post comments. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Summer of NIMBY: Tech moguls and investors, whose industry champions housing relief, have banded together to object to a plan for multifamily homes near their estates in Atherton.
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