Gawker are appealing a jury’s decision to award Hulk Hogan $140 million in damages after they posted his sex tape online.
The media website – which had been ordered to pay the hefty sum after a court found they invaded the professional wrestler’s privacy by publishing the video online – is asking for a judge to reconsider the decision and requests they pay no more than $1.875 million in all to Hulk.
In court papers filed this week, Gregg Thomas, the company’s lawyer said: "There is substantial evidence that, in reaching its verdict as to both liability and damages, the jury was guided by passion and prejudice, rather than the pertinent facts and the law.
"The jury’s award is 12 times the largest compensatory damages award in American history arising from a media publication that has survived post-trial motions and appeals."
Of the appeal, Hulk’s lawyer David Houston said: "Gawker has made no secret of the fact that they were planning to file a motion for a new trial and an appeal based on arguments that are meaningless to the case at hand. We emerged victorious once and we plan to do so again.
"Of note, it is apparent Gawker is unable to accept responsibility for their actions or demonstrate any intention of correcting their behaviour."
Gawker appeals Hulk Hogan’s $140m damages award
