Hulk Hogan v. Gawker: Civil trial

Case background

More background & key dates

The jury awarded $115 million in compensatory damages on March 18, 2016, followed by $25.1 million in punitive damages on March 21. A later settlement provided for $31 million plus a potential share of additional recoveries. The recordings here cover the March trial and punitive phase, not the later bankruptcy proceedings.

Compiled by Trial Empire with AI assistance · Sources checked November 11, 2026 · Sources & corrections

Key dates

March 7, 2016
Opening statements began the recorded trial sequence. Source ↗
March 18, 2016
The jury awarded $115 million in compensatory damages. Source ↗
March 21, 2016
The punitive award added $25.1 million across the defendants. Source ↗
November 2016
The parties reached a later settlement; that proceeding is outside this collection. Source ↗

Collection scope & recording notes

Terry Bollea, known as Hulk Hogan, sued Gawker Media over its publication of an intimate video. The Florida civil trial examined privacy, newsworthiness and damages. Hogan was the plaintiff; Gawker and the other defendants contested liability. This was not a criminal prosecution. 51 Law&Crime recordings, ordered from the March 7 openings through testimony, closings, the March 18 civil verdict and the March 21 punitive-damages phase. Source day and part numbers are preserved. Jury selection is excluded. Civil damages are not a criminal sentence. 51 recordings, approximately 48 broadcast hours. Original source titles and credits are retained. LIVE in a title refers to the original broadcast. Recordings can contain breaks and broadcaster commentary; this is not a certified complete court record.

THE VIEWER’S GUIDE · 2016 Florida civil trial · Bollea v. Gawker Media

Watch with a question in mind.

Where should the line between privacy and newsworthiness fall in this evidence? Reference a recording and time; the audience slider concerns Gawker’s liability.

Compiled by Trial Empire with AI assistance · Sources & corrections

Find your place.

Watch the openings →
Hear the opening statements, then follow the labeled recording list.
Watch the verdict →
Jump to the verdict recording. This reveals the outcome.
Watch the punitive verdict →
Continue to the separate March 21 punitive-damages decision.

Before you watch

Why does the audience meter say liable rather than guilty?

This is a civil case. Hogan sued for damages; he was not a criminal defendant. The slider asks about Gawker’s liability, and the recorded decisions concern compensation and punitive damages.

What is included in this collection?

51 Law&Crime recordings, ordered from the March 7 openings through testimony, closings, the March 18 civil verdict and the March 21 punitive-damages phase. Source day and part numbers are preserved. Jury selection is excluded. Civil damages are not a criminal sentence.

Is this the official complete court record?

No. This is a collection of available recordings. Uploads may contain breaks, commentary, edits or omissions. Original titles and credits are preserved; LIVE refers to the original broadcast. This guide describes the historical proceedings, not current appeal status.

BRING THIS TO THE ROOM

Start with a question.

Where should the line between privacy and newsworthiness fall in this evidence? Reference a recording and time; the audience slider concerns Gawker’s liability.

Join the chat →

Discuss the evidence respectfully. Avoid personal information and unsupported accusations.

Sources & further reading

Recording shortcuts use this collection’s existing source labels. No unverified timestamps or hearing dates have been added.

Jury Duty

2016 civil · Trial Day 9 Part 2 03/17/16

The viewing order.

2016 civil · Plaintiff Opening Statements 03/07/16

2016 civil · Defense Opening Statement 03/07/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 1 Part 1 03/07/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 1 Part 2 03/07/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 1 Part 3 03/07/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 2 Part 1 03/08/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 2 Part 2 03/08/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 2 Part 3 03/08/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 2 Part 4 03/08/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 2 Part 5 03/08/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 3 Part 1 03/09/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 3 Part 2 03/09/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 3 Part 3 03/09/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 3 Part 4 03/09/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 3 Part 5 030916

2016 civil · Trial Day 4 Part 1 03/10/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 4 Part 2 03/10/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 4 Part 3 03/10/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 4 Part 4 03/10/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 4 Part 5 03/10/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 4 Part 6 031016

2016 civil · Trial Day 5 Part 1 03/11/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 5 Part 2 03/11/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 5 Part 3 03/11/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 5 Part 4 03/11/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 6 Part 1 03/14/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 6 Part 2 03/14/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 6 Part 3 03/14/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 6 Part 4 03/14/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 6 Part 5 03/14/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 6 Part 6 03/14/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 7 Part 1 03/15/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 7 Part 2 03/15/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 7 Part 3 03/15/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 7 Part 4 03/15/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 8 Part 1 03/16/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 8 Part 2 03/16/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 8 Part 3 03/16/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 8 Part 4 03/16/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 8 Part 5 03/16/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 9 Part 1 03/17/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 9 Part 2 03/17/16

2016 civil · Trial Day 9 Part 3 03/17/16

2016 civil · Plaintiff Closing Argument 03/18/16

2016 civil · Defense Closing Argument 03/18/16

2016 civil · Plaintiff Rebuttal 03/18/16

2016 civil · Trial Verdict 03/18/16

2016 civil · Punitive Phase Part 1 03/21/16

2016 civil · Punitive Phase Part 2 03/21/16

2016 civil · Punitive Phase Part 3 03/21/16