Jury awards Hulk Hogan $25M US in punitive damages in Gawker sex video trial
Award over and above $115M judgment against Gawker on Friday
A jury has awarded Hulk Hogan $25 million in punitive damages in his lawsuit against Gawker Media for publishing a sex video of the former pro wrestler.
Hogan's lawyer asked jurors Monday to award even more in punitive damages against Gawker Media, after they hit the company with a $115 million judgment on Friday for economic harm and distress.
- Hulk Hogan wins Gawker sex tape lawsuit, awarded $115M US
- Hulk Hogan says he was humiliated by sex tape publication on Gawker
- Hulk Hogan sex tape showed him 'as a person,' Gawker founder says
Gawker's lawyer pleaded that the existing verdict is already "debilitating" for the company.
Jurors began deliberating after hearing brief statements from lawyers from Gawker and Hogan on Monday afternoon.
During closing arguments Monday, Hogan's lawyer Kenneth Turkel said Gawker Media's gross revenues in 2015 were $48.7 million and that founder Nick Denton has a total of $121 million, including a $3.6-million Manhattan condo.
Gawker Media is worth $83 million, the lawyers said.
A.J. Daulerio, the then-Gawker editor who wrote the post that accompanied the article and the person who decided to post the edited video, has no assets, the lawyers said. They said Daulerio has $27,000 in student loan debt.
Turkel told the jury a punitive amount could act as both punishment to Gawker and a deterrent to other media companies.
Jurors have "an ability to send a message," Turkel said, adding that Gawker acted with reckless disregard when it posted an edited version of the sex video.
Gawker to appeal
Michael Sullivan, representing Gawker, said the New York Media company has "heard your judgment and we take it very seriously."
The $115 million judgment "is punishment enough" and "is already far beyond their means."
"The amount of that verdict could already be debilitating for Gawker Media," Sullivan said.
"Your verdict will send a chill down the spine of writers,producers, and publishers," he added.
Gawker has already said it would appeal that decision.
On Friday, Hogan took to Twitter, posting, "Told ya I was gonna slam another giant."
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.