News Outlets Sued for Showing Dead Bodies of Wildfire Victims
- StewartWood Injury Lawyers
A family in Northern California is suing two major broadcasters, ABC and CBS, for emotional distress and invasion of privacy. The lawsuit stems from news footage aired by the networks showing the deceased bodies of the plaintiffs' parents following the McKinney Fire in 2022. The family claims the broadcasters trespassed on private property to film the scene, invaded their privacy and inflicted emotional distress. The family argues that the graphic content served no public interest and only caused them additional suffering. The lawsuit accuses the networks of "intruding into the worst day of their lives and profiting from their grief." Typically, journalists will avoid publishing images or footage of people who died before the next of kin has been contacted. The lawsuit highlights the ongoing debate about showing graphic images of deceased people in news reports, with some arguing for their importance in raising awareness and others emphasizing the potential harm to grieving families.