In a significant legal victory, a woman from Texas, USA, has been granted a remarkable $1.2 billion settlement by a civil court in the United States. The court ruled in favor of the woman in a lawsuit against her former boyfriend who had committed the act known as ‘revenge porn’, causing emotional distress and violating her privacy.
The woman, identified in court documents by the initials DL, lodged a complaint against her former partner in 2022, as reported. She accused her ex-boyfriend, Marques Jamal Jackson, of posting private photos of her on various explicit websites and social media platforms.
The plaintiff claimed that the distressing incident occurred after their relationship ended. According to legal records, DL and Jackson had started dating back in 2016 but parted ways in October 2021. During the course of their relationship, she had entrusted Jackson with private photographs of herself. Tragically, after their separation, he took it upon himself to upload these images to explicit websites and fake accounts on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Shockingly, he also shared links to these explicit images through a Dropbox folder with her acquaintances and family members.
DL alleged that Jackson had unauthorized access to her email, social media accounts, phone, and even the camera system at her mother’s residence. A message sent by the accused to the woman added to her emotional distress, stating, “You will spend the rest of your life trying and failing to wipe yourself off the internet. Everyone you ever meet will hear the story and go looking. Happy Hunting.“
Lawyers involved in the case asserted that Jackson’s actions were not only a breach of privacy but also a form of psychological abuse, domestic violence, and sexual abuse aimed at inflicting emotional harm.
During the legal proceedings, Jackson was represented by an attorney, yet he failed to appear in court to defend himself against the allegations. As a consequence, the jury proceeded with their deliberations. Their verdict was that the woman should be awarded a total of $1 billion in exemplary damages, along with an additional $200 million to compensate for her past and future mental suffering. The massive settlement reflects the severity of the emotional distress and violation of privacy that DL endured due to the actions of her ex-boyfriend.
In an interview, the woman shared that she sought legal action after finding little assistance from local law enforcement. Her pursuit of justice ultimately resulted in this landmark ruling, which could set an important precedent for cases involving ‘revenge porn’ and violations of online privacy.
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This case highlights the importance of addressing the harmful consequences of online privacy violations and cyberbullying, particularly in the context of personal relationships. The significant settlement not only acknowledges the woman’s suffering but also sends a clear message about the seriousness of such actions in the digital age.
