Gawker files motions seeking new trial in privacy case

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A New York news website has filed motions in a Florida court seeking a new trial in the Hulk Hogan invasion of privacy case.

In court filings filed this week, lawyers for Gawker Media asked for a new trial or for the amount in damages awarded to the former pro wrestler be vacated or drastically reduced.

“Gawker is now beginning the process of challenging the jury’s verdict in a trial where key evidence was wrongly withheld and the jury was not properly instructed on the constitutional standards for newsworthiness,” Gawker wrote in a statement. “So we expect to be fully vindicated. And even if the verdict were to stand, there is no justification for awarding tens of millions of dollars never seen by victims of death and serious injuries.”

Hogan sued Gawker after it posted a video of him having sex with his then-best friend’s wife. Hogan said he didn’t know he was being taped by Bubba The Love Sponge Clem.

In March, a St. Petersburg jury sided with Hogan, who sued after the website posted a portion of the video. Hogan was awarded $115 million in compensatory damages plus an added $25.1 million in punitive damages, for a total of $140.1 million.

“We emerged victorious once and we plan to do so again,” wrote Hogan’s legal team in a statement. “Of note it is apparent Gawker is unable to accept responsibility for their actions or demonstrate any intention of correcting their behaviour.”

Gawker has maintained that because the jury was prohibited from knowing about prior court rulings in favour of Gawker, prohibited from seeing critical evidence gathered by the FBI and prohibited from hearing from an important witness, that an appeals court could overturn the case.