Hustler ordered to pay $375K for publishing dead woman’s photos
ATLANTA — A federal judge has penalized Hustler Magazine $375,000 for publishing the decades-old nude photographs of the wife of a professional wrestler.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash today signed off on the award in a case brought by the family of Nancy Benoit, the wife of wrestler Chris Benoit.
Thrash’s order overturned a nearly $20 million verdict awarded by a jury to Benoit’s family. He said the jury award cannot exceed Georgia’s cap on punitive damages.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported today that Richard Decker, an attorney hired by Benoit’s family, said he would appeal the decision. The newspaper noted that Georgia law “allows a jury to exceed the $250,000 cap if it’s proven the defendant ‘acted … with intent to harm.’”
Decker was quoted by the newspaper as saying: “There was certainly enough evidence presented to the jury which showed specific intent.”
The photos were published in 2008. In June 2007, Chris Benoit killed his wife and his young son before committing suicide. Nancy Benoit’s family sued Hustler‘s publisher, claiming that the woman had asked the photographer to destroy the images immediately after they were shot.
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John Seigenthaler founded the First Amendment Center in 1991 with the mission of creating national discussion, dialogue and debate about First Amendment rights and values.
Dr. Charles C. Haynes is director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum. He writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life.
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Tiffany Villager is director/First Amendment studies at the First Amendment Center, which she joined in 1993. She also served as the center’s research manager and research coordinator, and developed the center’s library.
