Why A Los Angeles Court Wants Vanessa Bryant To Undergo A Pyschiatric Evaluation

Kobe Bryant's widow Vannessa Bryant is being compelled by a Los Angeles court to undergo a psychiatric evaluation for the lawsuit she filed against first responders over leaked photos of the 2020 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of her husband, daughter, and others.

Reports reveal that Vanessa is suing the Los Angeles County, maintaining that her family's privacy was violated after images of the crash were shared by the sheriff's deputies.

The crash had occurred in January 2020 and Vanessa's lawsuit is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. She is joined in the lawsuit by the crash victims' surviving family members.

Vanessa Bryant and late husband Kobe Bryant | Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Now, the county has filed a motion in the California Superior Court, targetting the plaintiff's assertion that the leak was an intentional move to cause emotional distress.

The county's motion is requesting that all the plaintiffs undergo a psychiatric examination. 

“Plaintiffs cannot claim that they are suffering from ongoing depression, anxiety, and severe emotional distress and then balk at having to support their claims,” the county stated in its motion.

The statement called the medical examination "crucial" for the defense and for a fair trial. A judge is scheduled to give a ruling on the county's motion on November 5, 2021.