St Petersburg: A jury has hit Gawker Media with USD 15 million in punitive damages and its owner with USD 10 million, adding to the USD 115 million it awarded last week for publishing a sex video of Hulk Hogan.
The jury returned its decision yesterday.
From the size of the punitive award, it was clear that the jury wanted to punish Gawker even more.
During brief arguments yesterday, Gawker's lawyer pleaded that the Friday verdict is already "debilitating" for the company.
Hogan's attorney said jurors were in a position to "send a message" and deter others.
Friday's USD 115 million award was for economic harm and emotional distress. Yesterday's award, in the words of Hogan attorney Kenneth Turkel, was to punish recklessness and to send a message to other media companies.
Jurors in the Hulk Hogan sex tape lawsuit are considering whether to award punitive damages against Gawker Media.
After hearing briefly from lawyers from Gawker and Hogan yesterday afternoon, the jury began deliberating.
Hogan sued Gawker after it posted a video of him having sex with his then-best friend's wife. Hogan said he didn't know he was being taped. Whatever the jury decides on punitive damages, it's clear the case isn't over. Gawker has already said it would appeal.
On Friday, the jury awarded Hogan USD 115 million for economic harm and emotional distress.
