Retired wrestler Hulk Hogan has finally received a court date regarding his $100 million lawsuit against Gawker Media. This is mainly about a decade-old sex tape showing him having intercourse with a friend's wife, which was released four years after it was filmed.
In a report by CNN Money, the opening statements from the defendant and the plaintiff will be heard on Monday at the Pinellas County Judicial Building in St. Petersburg, Florida. Gawker Media was responsible for publishing a portion of the aforementioned sex tape of the wrestler. Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, will also be taking the stand on the same day. As per Hogan's attorney, David Houston, the case could be wrapped by Thursday afternoon.
Gawker has published one minute and 40 seconds of the 30-minute sex tape back in 2012. The defendants named in the lawsuit are former Gawker editor A.J. Daulerio and Gawker founder Nick Denton. Hogan is suing them for $100 million for damages, emotional pain, and loss of privacy, The Guardian reported.
The footage showed Hogan and Heather Clem, who was the wife of radio host Bubba "The Love Sponge" Clem at that time. The post was entitled "Even for a Minute, Watching Hulk Hogan Have Sex in a Canopy Bed is Not Safe For Work but Watch it Anyway," Raw Story reported.
The video was captured by surveillance cameras inside the home of the Clems. Accordingly, Bubba claimed that Hogan was fully aware that there were surveillance videos at the home but he and Hogan had a settlement. Days after, Bubba released a statement saying that Hogan was unaware of the recording device in their bedroom.
Houston added that Gawker said publishing a portion of the sex tape is covered by the First Amendment. The company said in a statement last week that they are defending the First Amendment against Hogan's effort to "create a world where celebrities can promote themselves around any topic, in this case sex, and then veto how the media covers their lives."
Houston noted that it is not the case as the sexual exploits of his client has been made as a "matter of public interest." Seth Berlin, an attorney for Gawker, also released a statement saying that the media company was allowed to join in the "very public conversation" about Hogan, but the wrestler did not like how it was presented that is why he decided to sue the publication.
An all-female jury will be deciding on the case and per Florida law, if the jury finds in favor of Hogan, Gawker will have to pay the wrestler. The publication company could still appeal for the case at a higher court in case Hogan wins the lawsuit.
