A six-member jury found Gawker violated the wrestler's privacy after the website published a sex tape of him. Hogan sought $100 million in damages over the edited video Gawker posted online in 2012. The said lady he had a fling with was said to be his friend's wife. https://www.facebook.com/cnn/videos/10154543449951509/
— A Florida jury sided with ex-pro wrestler Hulk Hogan on Friday and awarded him $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media.

The jurors reached the decision less than six hours after they began deliberations. Hogan was awarded $55 for economic injuries and $65 million for emotional distress.

Hogan, dressed all in black including a black bandanna, cried when the verdict was announced.

Over the course of two weeks of testimony, the jury heard from Hogan, whose given name is Terry Bollea, Gawker CEO Nick Denton, and multiple expert witnesses.
The jury isn’t finished; they will return to court Monday to award punitive damages. Just moments after the verdict, Denton said he will appeal, based on evidence that wasn’t introduced in court.

“Given the key evidence and the most important witness in this case were withheld from the jury, we all knew the appeals court would need to resolve this case,” Denton said.

Hogan’s team issued a statement as well: “We’re exceptionally happy with the verdict. We think it represents a statement as to the public’s disgust with the invasion of privacy disguised as journalism. The verdict says no more.”

Hogan sued Gawker for $100 million for posting a video in 2012 of him having sex with his former best friend’s wife. Hogan contended it was a violation of his privacy.

“With a click and upload, it turned this man’s life upside down,” Hogan attorney Kenneth Turkel said.

Gawker’s editors contended the video and an accompanying post was a newsworthy commentary on the ordinariness of celebrity sex videos.

They told the jury that the video is “not like a real celebrity sex tape” and urged them to watch the video, which contains nine seconds of sexual content.

They pointed out that news of the sex tape first appeared on at least two websites: TMZ and The Dirty. Hogan went on TMZ’s TV program to talk about it, and later, appeared on the Howard Stern show.

“He has consistently chosen to put his private life out there, for public consumption,” said attorney Michael Sullivan.

He also criticized Hogan’s claim that he was in Hulk Hogan persona when he was doing interviews.

“An actor playing a character does that on set, but when they go on a talk show, they’re themselves,” Sullivan said.

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