Hulk Hogan Sex Tape Case Awarded $140.1 million

Former wrestling star, Hulk Hogan, was awarded $25.1 million in "punitive damages" Monday. The total damages in the "invasion-of-privacy" case against Gawker Media sum up to $140.1 million.

The jury had decided last Friday that Gawker was accountable for the October 2012 publication of an amateur sex tape that featured Hogan, or Terry Bollea. He was awarded $60 million for going through emotional stress and $55 million for economic damages, said latimes. The jury had decided last Friday that Gawker was accountable for the October 2012 publication of an amateur sex tape that featured Hogan, or Terry Bollea. He was awarded $60 million for going through emotional stress and $55 million for economic damages, said latimes.

Florida law says that the jury could have granted about thrice that amount in total "punitive damages," which would amount to $345 million.

However, Judge Pamela A.M. Campbell of Florida's 6th Judicial Circuit Court in Pinellas County told the jury that punitive damages should not have a "devastating effect" on the defendants.

Hence, the conclusion was arrived at, that Gawker needed to pay $15 million in punitive damages and that Nick Denton, its founder and chief executive, needed to pay $10 million.

Moreover, Albert J. Daulerio, earlier editor-in-chief of Gawker.com was ordered to pay $100,000.

Hogan's lawyers in court Monday said that Gawker Media's prejudgment valuation is $83 million. The company had driven in $48.7 million in 2015.

Gawker's attorney, Michael Barry, had defended that the $115 million, which had already been awarded, was enough punishment.

 "The amount you have rendered in your verdict is already far beyond their means," he told jurors before they began deliberations Monday afternoon. "An additional punishment is unnecessary.... Your verdict will send a chill down the spine of publishers, writers, producers and publishers throughout the company."

Meanwhile, Gawker will now appeal the case, which has been knocking about in the courts for three years.

Last year, the Florida 2nd District Court ruled out a decision by Hogan's lawyers that called upon Gawker to remove the video.

Following the judgement Friday, Hogan tweeted to 1.4 million followers: "Told ya I was going to slam another giant."