Former American pro-wrestler Hulk Hogan has been awarded by the Florida jury with additional $25 million in punitive damages following his sex tape lawsuit case against Gawker media. Last week, it was reported that Hogan was already awarded with $115 million for damages.
The WHNT News 19 reported, Hulk Hogan was awarded by the said amount of money Monday, which hit Gawker media with $15 million judgment and with $10 million for its owner, Nick Denton. The Gawker editor, A.J. Daulerio, was also found liable, and was ordered to pay an additional $100,000 after six jurors assessed the case.
The punitive damages are added to the $115 million, which was already granted to Hulk Hogan on Friday after a two-week hearing. The retired professional wrestler filed a lawsuit against a media website company, Gawker media after publishing a sex video of him and with his former bestfriend, DJ Bubba's young wife, the Guardian reported. Hogan testified that he was not aware that the two of them are being filmed secretly.
The Fox News reported, his representing lawyers asked the jurors for the additional damages on Monday, aside from the given $115 million ruling. Kenneth Turkel, Hogan's lawyer disclosed on the closing argument about the gross revenues of the company in 2015. The company has "$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," Turkel said.
Monday's award, in the words of Hogan attorney, Turkel, was to punish recklessness and to send a message to other media companies. He added, Gawker acted with reckless disregard when it posted an edited version of the sex video.
The online media company and blog network has already said it would appeal against last week's verdict, in a case which was widely expected to reshape how the media covers celebrities in future.
