The rich got even richer yesterday as the jury on the Hulk Hogan/Gawker case added another $25 million in punitive damages to the $115 million Gawker have already been ordered to pay him, after publishing his sex tape on their site.
Featured Image VIA
What are punitive damages you ask?
Judge Campbell explains punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant & deter future incidents #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 21, 2016
The judge did at least try and take it easy on Gawker – lol:
Tells the jury they cannot award damages “that would financially destroy or bankrupt any of the defendants” #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 21, 2016
Judge says Nick Denton's net worth is $121 million. AJ Daulerio has nothing but $27,000 in student debt #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 21, 2016
Hogan attorney: "I’m not going to argue that AJ Daulerio has some huge net worth, because he just doesn’t.” #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 21, 2016
Gawker’s lawyer was practically on his knees begging for mercy:
"$115 million is punishment enough" Gawker attorney tells jury #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 21, 2016
Gawker attorney says the $115 million owed "exceeds the value of the entire company by $30 million.” #hulkvsgawk
— Tom Kludt (@TomKludt) March 21, 2016
Jurors ask if they can award community service to the defendants instead of punitive damages. Are told no. #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 21, 2016
That seems like a question directed at Daulerio's situation. They want to punish, but there's no $ to take. #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 21, 2016
And then, boom:
The jury orders Gawker Media to pay Hulk Hogan $15m in punitive damages #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 21, 2016
The jury orders Nick Denton to pay Hulk Hogan $10m. For AJ Daulerio: $100k #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 21, 2016
The judge orders the Hulk Hogan sex tape sealed. #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 21, 2016
The crazy thing is that Hogan was suing them for $100 million, and not only did they award him $115 million, now they want to give him $25 mill on top. He literally couldn’t have dreamt of such a sweet outcome.
Possibly something to do with the Gawker editor AJ Daulerio making dumb child porn jokes during the trial:
Hogan’s lawyer also apparently obliterated Gawker’s lawyer to smithereens. The fight was basically over before it even began. Hogan! Hogan! Hogan!
The legend is of course loving the outcome and wasted no time in rubbing salt in Gawker’s wounds on Twitter:
Thank you God,I am grateful,"I AM THAT I AM". Only love HH pic.twitter.com/Y5R42C4EF7
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) March 22, 2016
Told ya I was gonna slam another giant HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) March 19, 2016
What an outcome for the Hulkster. Naturally, Gawker are talking about appealing the verdict but as it stands this really could not have gone any better for Hogan. Wonder if he’ll be making that appearance at Wreslemania 32 after all?
