DS&A Client Awarded $30 Million in Landmark Jury Verdict

The verdict in Dr. Spring Chenoa Cooper’s case is a message to bad actors: New York doesn’t condone your behavior.

On February 16, 2024, a group of New York County jurors awarded DS&A client, Dr. Spring Chenoa Cooper, $30 million in damages after hearing testimony from Dr. Cooper and two of her friends about the physical work that went into combatting defendant Ryan Broems’ persistent uploading of new intimate photographs and videos as well as the emotional toll it took and continues to take on Dr. Cooper.

Dr. Cooper’s case was the first to be filed under New York City’s then-new law against nonconsensual pornography. While it is not the first award resulting from the law, it is the largest, with the jury awarding Dr. Cooper $10 million for past and future pain and suffering, $5 million in punitive damages for defendant’s dissemination of Dr. Cooper’s images without her permission or consent, and $15 million in punitive damages for defendant’s intentional infliction of emotional distress.

In determining the amount of punitive damages to be awarded, the jury was tasked with considering the nature and reprehensibility of defendant’s actions, including whether his actions demonstrated an indifference to, or a reckless disregard of, the health, safety, or rights of others; whether the acts were done with an improper motive or vindictiveness; whether the acts were outrageous or oppressive intentional misconduct; how long the conduct went on and defendant’s awareness of harm the conduct was likely to cause; whether defendant concealed the wrongdoing; whether defendant committed similar acts previously; and the actual and potential harm caused by defendant’s conduct.

The verdict recognizes the lifelong consequences nonconsensual pornography has for survivors and demonstrates a clear intention to send a message to would-be bad actors that weaponizing intimate content is not accepted in New York City.