ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Florida jury this afternoon tossed in another $25.1 million in punitive damages onto its $115 million verdict against Gawker, its founder and former editor on Monday for the website's posting of a secretly recorded video of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan having sex.
The six-member jury handed down an additional $15 million in punitives against Gawker Media LLC, $10 million against founder Nick Denton and $100,000 against Gawker’s former editor, A.J. Daulerio.
After the announcement over punitives that totals liability to $140.1 million, Gawker’s general counsel, Heather Dietrick, issued a statement that said, “There is so much this jury deserved to know and, fortunately, that the appeals court indeed know.”
“So we are confident we will win this case ultimately based on not only on the law but also the truth.”
Hogan has said the sex tape, made public in 2012, was not authorized and that its posting by Gawker turned his world "upside down."
Hogan's attorney said the six jurors were in a position to "send a message" and deter others.
Gawker's counsel, during brief arguments Monday, said that Friday's verdict of $115 million is already "debilitating" for the company.
