UPDATED: October 2026
After sheriff’s deputies in Los Angeles County shared graphic photos from the helicopter crash that killed Lakers star Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others in Calabasas, the California Senate approved a bill that would make it a crime for first responders to take pictures of dead people for reasons other than official investigations. According to a Los Angeles Times report, the Assembly had previously approved the bill, commonly known as the Kobe Bryant Act.
Update: California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law in September 2020.
How the Accident or Crime Scene Law Has Changed
Assemblyman Mike Gipson (D-Carson) introduced the bill after the LA Times reported that deputies shared photographs of the crash scene following the accident, which occurred on January 26, 2020. Gipson said he was “mortified” to learn that first responders had shared unauthorized photos from the crash scene.
The new law, which the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department proposed, would make it a misdemeanor for first responders to photograph or record video of a deceased person at a crime or accident scene unless it is required for an official investigation. It applies to law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel.
A conviction is punishable by up to a year in jail and up to $1,000 in fines. The Times reported that three days after the helicopter crash, a Los Angeles County deputy was at a Norwalk bar and allegedly showed other patrons some gruesome photos taken at the scene. After a citizen complained, Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva acknowledged that the department ordered deputies to delete images.
Unauthorized Photos or Video
Before the new law – known officially as AB 2655 – California law prohibited the reproduction of photos taken by a coroner of a body at an accident or crime scene. However, there was no ban on unauthorized photos taken on cell phones by first responders, including emergency services.
Because we now have smartphones and social media platforms, it is easier to capture and upload photos to the internet. The rapid spread of smartphones and social media made that blind spot in the law especially harmful.
Within days of the Bryant crash, a deputy allegedly displayed gruesome photos to patrons at a Norwalk bar. Additional images were later shown to firefighters and their spouses at an awards event and passed among deputies. If any images make it onto the internet, they can live there forever with little recourse to get them taken down.
The new law closed that loophole. It applies to any first responder who photographs or records a deceased person at a crime or accident scene, except under the narrow exceptions for official investigative needs or a genuine public interest. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department also updated its internal policies, restricting photography of human remains to authorized Scientific Services Bureau or Department of Medical Examiner personnel and declaring any unauthorized images the sole property of the department.
Vanessa Bryant’s Lawsuit and the 2022 Verdict
The legislative change was not the only consequence of the photo scandal. Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Kobe Bryant and the mother of Gianna, filed a federal lawsuit against Los Angeles County alleging invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Another family that lost a loved one in the crash also filed a legal action.
Evidence presented at trial showed that multiple deputies and firefighters took graphic cellphone photographs of the victims’ remains, despite only the coroner’s office and National Transportation Safety Board investigators being authorized to document the scene.
The images were shared among colleagues and circulated in ways that had no legitimate investigative purpose. County attorneys argued that the photos were never posted online or given to the media and that some images served operational needs. They also contended that Vanessa Bryant could not prove the kind of public dissemination required for certain privacy claims.
In August 2022, a federal jury rejected those arguments. After only a few hours of deliberation, the panel awarded Vanessa Bryant $16 million and a total of approximately $31 million when combined with damages awarded to the second family. Jurors found that the county’s departments lacked adequate training and policies to prevent the taking and sharing of death-scene photographs and that a longstanding practice of circulating such images existed.
The verdict underscored that privacy rights belonging to surviving family members can be violated even when graphic images never reach the general public.
Damages Available to Families
The new law created by the Kobe Bryant Act introduces criminal penalties for people violating the privacy of accident victims. But families also often have the right to claim civil damages. This means that they could recover financial compensation. Relatives may pursue legal actions for:
- Invasion of privacy – which is the public disclosure of private information or intrusion upon seclusion.
- Intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress.
- Negligence based on a public entity’s failure to train, supervise, or enforce proper scene-documentation policies.
Federal courts have recognized that parents and close family members possess a protected interest in controlling images of a deceased loved one’s remains. Successful claims can result in compensatory damages for emotional harm and, in some cases, punitive damages or policy changes that protect future victims.
What Families Should Do If Unauthorized Pictures or Videos are Shared
If you learn that first responders photographed or recorded a deceased family member at an accident or crime scene with permission or authorization, the following are some of the steps you can take.
- Document everything you learn. This can include any relevant dates, the names of individuals involved, how and where the images were shown or shared, a rundown of how you discovered the issue, plus any witnesses.
- Preserve any evidence of the pictures or videos being shared, spread, or distributed. Evidence can include texts, emails, social media messages, or statements from people who saw the photos. Social media posts can be deleted, so it is a good idea to save a screenshot.
- Contact an experienced personal injury or privacy attorney as soon as you can. Statute of limitations time limits can apply, and early investigations can produce better results. It can lead to the recovery of internal records and data that later become harder to obtain.
- Understand that “the photos never went online” is not a complete defense against legal action. Courts have held that limited but unauthorized sharing can still result in legal liability.
Why the New Law Matters for Accident Victims and Families
First responders perform essential work under difficult conditions. Their responsibilities include treating the deceased and their families with dignity. But they can inflict additional trauma on grieving families when they cross ethical boundaries by sharing graphic images from tragic scenes. These images can haunt surviving relatives for years and cause secondary injuries.
The new California law targeting unauthorized photos at crash scenes represents an important step toward protecting victims’ dignity and privacy. The Kobe Bryant Act and the related jury verdict sent a clear message: the privacy of accident victims and their families is not optional.
At Bisnar Chase, we strongly supported this legislation when it was pending and continue to support robust privacy protections for those who have already suffered the loss of a loved one. Smartphones and social media have made it disturbingly easy to capture and distribute deeply personal images of people at their most vulnerable moments. This law sends a clear message that such privacy violations are unacceptable. As legal professionals dedicated to protecting victims’ rights, we fully endorse stronger laws here.
The proposed penalties—up to one year in jail and $1,000 in fines—reflect the serious nature of these privacy breaches. By criminalizing unauthorized crash scene photography, California can help prevent further emotional damage to families already suffering immense loss.
A Much-Needed Privacy Law
Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers fully support this new law, which protects victims and their families. It is absolutely disgusting to share photos of individuals—be they injured or deceased victims—at a time when they are at their most vulnerable. Further, it is devastating for grieving families and loved ones who, in some cases, may not even be aware of a family member’s death. The introduction of this law was an important step to protect vulnerable victims and their families.
If your family has suffered the loss of a loved one in an accident and you believe unauthorized photographs or recordings were taken or shared, or if you are dealing with any related privacy or wrongful-death issues, our team can evaluate your situation at no cost. Contact Bisnar Chase for a free consultation. We have recovered more than $1 billion for injured clients and their families and maintain a 99% success rate.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-29/photos-taken-at-kobe-bryant-crash-site-prompt-tougher-california-privacy-law
Brian Chase
Articles, blogs, and content have been reviewed by legal in-house staff. Brian Chase is the managing partner of Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP. He is the lead trial lawyer and oversees cases handling dangerous and defective products that injure consumers. Brian is a top-rated injury attorney with numerous legal honors and awards for his work relating to auto defects and dangerous products. His firm has recovered over $1B for its clients. Brian is a frequent speaker for CAOC, Dordick Trial College, and OCTLA, covering personal injury trial techniques.