Los Angeles (CNN)A group of nine federal jurors began deliberating Wednesday in the civil case over graphic photos taken at the site of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others
The deliberations began shortly after an attorney for Los Angeles County argued that the trial is a "pictures case with no pictures," noting that the gruesome photos of human remains have never actually been seen by the public -- or even the plaintiffs
No pictures is good. No pictures means no public dissemination... no risk of other people making mistakes," county attorney Mira Hashmall said in closing arguments of the trial.
In an emotional rebuttal, Bryant's attorney Luis Li argued Wednesday the actions of the county in taking such photos were reckless and inhumane and caused emotional distress.
"They poured salt into an unhealable wound and that's why we're all here today," he said
The trial against LA county, the Sheriff's Department, Fire Department and others is centered on photos of human remains taken after the helicopter crash that killed NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, Chester's wife Sarah and his daughter Payton and five others in January 2020
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the helicopter pilot pushed the limits of bad weather flying rules before he crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, California
Vanessa Bryant and Christopher Chester have argued that the taking and sharing of those photos caused emotional distress and violated their constitutional rights. Their attorneys asked the jury for damages of up to $42.5 million for Bryant and $32.5 million for Chester. Los Angeles County, though, has argued that it acted appropriately to investigate and delete the photos and prevent them from ever spreading.
Witnesses during the trial included a deputy who said he showed graphic images from the scene while at a bar, another deputy who said he shared photos while playing a video game, a deputy who sent dozens of photos to someone he didn't know, and a fire official who showed the images to other personnel during an awards ceremony cocktail hour
In September 2020, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an invasion-of-privacy bill called the "Kobe Bryant Act" that makes it illegal for first responders to share photos of a dead person at a crime scene "for any purpose other than an official law enforcement purpose." The misdemeanor crime is punishable by up to $1,000 per violation.
Coincidentally, Los Angeles has named Wednesday, August 24, as "Kobe Bryant Day" to honor the Los Angeles Lakers star's two jersey numbers, 8 and 24, that he wore during his NBA career. The Lakers have retired both numbers
In closing arguments Wednesday, attorneys for Los Angeles County sought to separate Vanessa Bryant's emotional testimony from the legal issues the jury must consider