Tag Archives: invasion of privacy

Hulkster gets what? $115 million?

Local Input~ FOR NATIONAL POST USE ONLY - Monitoring from the InterNet. Credit: fotolia. Keywords:  omputer; Monitor; Tastatur; Auge; Lupe; Schreibtisch; Buero; sehen; schauen; Blick; blicken; Einblick; ueberwachen; Ueberwachung; Internet; online; Durchsuchung; spionieren; Spionage; Spion; Detektiv; Ermittler; Ermittlung; Untersuchung; untersuchen; Kriminalitaet; kriminell; Gesetz; gesetzlich; ungesetzlich; strafbar; Strafe; strafen; bestrafen; Spurensuche; Spur; Verdacht; verdaechtigen; Privatsphaere; privat; software; Virus; malware; spyware; Trojaner; trojanisch; keyboard; eye; magnifying glass; desk; office; see; look; to view; view; supervise; to monitoring; look to InterNet; on-line; search; spy; espionage; feeler gauge; detective; Ermittler; determination; investigation; examine; criminality; criminally; law; legally; illegally; punishable; punishment; punish; tracing; trace; suspicion; suspect; privately; times commodity; trojan

Hulk Hogan is no Erin Andrews.

Yet the two celebrities share something in common. They’ve both received mammoth jury awards after they sued for invasion of privacy.

Andrews’ award has been universally hailed after a jury granted her $55 million in a suit against a hotel chain; she was video recorded in the nude in her hotel room.Ā The ESPNĀ reporterĀ was embarrassed to tears during the trial over the incident — in which the video went viral.

Hogan’s case is quite a bit different.

Gawker.com video recorded Hogan — the well-known former professional wrestler — having sex with his best friend’s wife. That video, too, went viral. Hogan — whose real name is Terry Bollea — sued for invasion of privacy.

A St. Petersburg, Fla., jury today gave the Hulkster $115 million. More than twice the award Erin Andrews got!

I offered a view about Hogan’s suitĀ in an earlier blog.

I backed his lawsuit because his case also seemed to be as legitimate as Andrews’.

However, I just cannot muster up the level of sympathy for the Hulkster as I can for Andrews. I mean, come on! The guy was engaging in some truly disgusting behavior when someone recorded him.

Maybe the St. Pete jury was trying to send some sort of message to would-be stalkers and gawkers. It is that even celebrity pro wrestlers have a level of privacy that shouldn’t be breached.

Whatever the case, I’m not going to cheer this verdict the way I did the earlier one.

 

Stalkers getting their rear ends kicked

hulk-hogan-2015-640x360

Sportscaster Erin Andrews has just won a $55 million award from a jury that ruled her privacy was invaded while she stayed in a hotel.

Someone recorded her in the nude while she was in her hotel room and then sent the video into cyberspace.

I can’t think of anyone who isn’t cheering that verdict. I hope she gets every penny, although it’s not likely she will.

There’s more.

Former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan was recorded having sex with his best friend’s wife. That video was sent out, too.

The Hulkster isĀ suing a publication for invading his privacy.

I have much less sympathy for Hogan — who’s real name is Terry Bollea — simply because of the nature of the video in question. I need not elaborate.

However, I do believe his privacy is as protected as Erin Andrews’ privacy. I hope he wins his suit.

And get a load of what the former editor of Gawker.com, which sent the video of Hogan/Bollea into cyberspace, told a jury today. He said the only people whose privacy should be honored in such a manner are children. At what age? He said 4 years of age. Five-year-olds? Hey, no sweat. They’re fair game.

Here’s how the New York Times reported the testimony:

ā€œCan you imagine a situation where a celebrity sex tape would not be newsworthy?ā€ asked the lawyer, Douglas E. Mirell.

ā€œIf they were a child,ā€ Mr. (Albert) Daulerio replied.

ā€œUnder what age?ā€ the lawyer pressed.

ā€œFour.ā€

Holy smokes, dude!

The Times reported that there was an audible gasp in the courtroom. Gee, do you think?

The testimony almost turns Hulk Hogan into a truly sympathetic character.

Almost.