The retired wrestler Hulk Hogan was awarded $115 million in damages on Friday by a Florida jury in an invasion of privacy case against Gawker.com over its publication of a sex tape - an astounding figure that tops the $100 million he had asked for, that will probably grow before the trial concludes, and that could send a cautionary signal to online publishers despite the likelihood of an appeal by Gawker.
The wrestler, known in court by his legal name, Terry G Bollea, sobbed as the verdict was announced in late afternoon, according to people in the courtroom.
Bollea's team said the verdict represented "a statement as to the public's disgust with the invasion of privacy disguised as journalism," adding: "The verdict says, 'No more.' "
The damages awarded to Bollea on Friday were compensatory: $55 million for economic harm and $60 million for emotional distress. Punitive damages will be established separately, which raises the prospect that Gawker will have to submit to a detailed examination of its finances in court.
Gawker's founder, Nick Denton, said in his own statement that the jury did not hear all the facts. "We feel very positive about the appeal that we have already begun preparing, as we expect to win this case ultimately," he said.
At issue in the case, in Pinellas County Circuit Court, was a grainy black-and-white tape made in the mid-2000s, which showed Bollea having sex with the wife of a friend of his at the time, Todd Clem, a radio shock jock who had legally changed his name to Bubba the Love Sponge Clem.
Gawker posted an excerpt in a 2012 post by Albert J Daulerio, the site's former editor in chief, that mused on the appeal of celebrity sex tapes.
The case represented a peculiar clash of worlds, and it was a surreal spectacle. Bollea explained his relationship with Clem, and the ways in which Clem had encouraged him to sleep with his wife.
The wrestler, known in court by his legal name, Terry G Bollea, sobbed as the verdict was announced in late afternoon, according to people in the courtroom.
Bollea's team said the verdict represented "a statement as to the public's disgust with the invasion of privacy disguised as journalism," adding: "The verdict says, 'No more.' "
The damages awarded to Bollea on Friday were compensatory: $55 million for economic harm and $60 million for emotional distress. Punitive damages will be established separately, which raises the prospect that Gawker will have to submit to a detailed examination of its finances in court.
Gawker's founder, Nick Denton, said in his own statement that the jury did not hear all the facts. "We feel very positive about the appeal that we have already begun preparing, as we expect to win this case ultimately," he said.
At issue in the case, in Pinellas County Circuit Court, was a grainy black-and-white tape made in the mid-2000s, which showed Bollea having sex with the wife of a friend of his at the time, Todd Clem, a radio shock jock who had legally changed his name to Bubba the Love Sponge Clem.
Gawker posted an excerpt in a 2012 post by Albert J Daulerio, the site's former editor in chief, that mused on the appeal of celebrity sex tapes.
The case represented a peculiar clash of worlds, and it was a surreal spectacle. Bollea explained his relationship with Clem, and the ways in which Clem had encouraged him to sleep with his wife.
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