Nikki Catsouras’ Family Regains Right To File Lawsuit Over Crash Photos
February 6th, 2010 - 10:49 pm ICT by GD ( 2 comments )By Gina Gomez
Santa Ana, California, Feb 6, (THAINDIAN NEWS) An appellate court has given the verdict that the family of car crash victim Nikki Catsouras can sue two employees of California Highway Patrol for leaking her decapitated pictures on the internet. The ruling which came to light earlier this week highlights the fact that the Catsouras family can now go ahead with their legal action against the highway patrol officials who emailed horrific pictures of the crash to their friends.
With the ruling, the appellate court upturned a lower court verdict that dismissed the lawsuit filed by the teenager’s family against the California Highway Patrol citing invasion of privacy. The ruling is being considered to be a breakthrough as the present law gives no right of privacy to the deceased’s family members.
It has been revealed that two highway patrol officers Aaron Reich and Thomas O’Donnell shared nine ghastly photos of the accident, which included an image of the teenager’s decapitated body, with their friends on the internet. The pictures were then shared with other netizens and gradually it went absolutely viral as it widely circulated across a number of online portals. This resulted in the family members of the deceased teenager receiving the photos from strangers who viewed the images on various websites that featured pornography and ghastly photos.
18 year old Nicole “Nikki” Catsouras lost her life on Halloween after suffering major injuries in an accident that took place on Lake Forest toll road in the year 2006. The California Highway police officials supposedly emailed the gruesome car crash pictures to their family and friends for the shock value that it provided on the day of Halloween.
- Dayna Kempson Schacht Crash Video Goes Viral - Oct 20, 2010
- Porsche girl Nikki Catsouras accident pictures go viral on the net - Jul 03, 2008
- The Nikki Catsouras Fiasco - May 03, 2009
- Nikki Catsouras Decapitated:But Why cant we leave her family in peace? - May 08, 2009
- David Carradine's death photo on the Thai newspaper continues to haunt the family - Jun 11, 2009
- Mel Gibson involved in car crash - Aug 17, 2010
- California hacker hunted naked photos from women's emails - Jan 14, 2011
- Six killed in US bus crash - Jul 22, 2010
- Malicious software links featuring bin-Laden's pics could be a virus: FBI - May 04, 2011
- Court quashes man's life term for dowry death - Oct 27, 2011
- Meredith Emerson Pictures Not To Be Released - Mar 12, 2010
- Three year jail for Mumbai hit-and-run convict: Apex court (Third Lead) - Jan 12, 2012
- David Beckham unhurt in car accident - May 08, 2011
- Mel Gibson Crashes 2008 Maserati, Escapes Unharmed - Aug 17, 2010
- Singh apologises to Oz family for helping killer driver flee to India - Feb 18, 2011
Tags: appellate court, california highway patrol, car crash pictures, court verdict, crash photos, crash victim, decapitated body, gina gomez, highway police, horrific pictures, invasion of privacy, lake forest, netizens, nicole nikki catsouras, police officials, present law, right of privacy, santa ana california, shock value, toll road
October 12th, 2010 at 5:24 am
I think that the situation is sad. However the pictures have a right to be on the web. Any parent who finds out that their minor is on drugs should Take AWAY AND HIDE ALL CAR KEYS. This was an act of an irresponsible teen and more then irresponsible parents. The pictures belong to the state patrol and they have every right to do with them as they feel fit. Warning other irresponsible teens and parents to make proper decisions. Yes I think its very sad that the family has a fear of the internet,and as a result their decisions and their daughters decisions will haunt them all their days. But that’s life, shit happens, and just because something bad happens to an individual or family doesn’t give them the right to sue people and make money off of it. The fact that they want to make money off their daughter’s death is even more pathetic then their parenting.
October 12th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
God bless you all, I hope you win your lawsuit. My husbands Father was killed in a head-on collision in 1975 in Pensacola,FL. The Bass%^$$$&# that hit him was driving a racecar on the street,which is illegal. I never got to meet my Father in Law and that hateful man is still alive and prospering, my Husband’s family didn’t get a dime from the demon. I hope you all win your suit with the Officer stupid enough to post the deceadent’s photos with out so much as a by your leave or a second thought as to how those photos affect Niki’s family. I hope the ChipS have to ride lawn mowers to do their job after you get your money for their obvious blunder and stupid posting of evidence in an accident.
Remember that Niki is a beautiful person, your daughter and she is safe in Gods arms, you can always know that and she is eternally in no pain and just waiting for you to walk across that rainbow filled bridge and join her, when your time to leave mortality is done. Remember her as she is, lovely, beautiful and not what that stupid officer posted on that email and other sites. Niki is well, happy and awaiting you all at journey’s end.
Love and light, God bless.