Jury finds man liable for circulating woman’s nude photos

A Jackson County jury awarded $275,000 to a woman whose private sexual images were distributed without her consent by a man convicted of the offense.

Jeremy Hollingshead and Nicholas Dudley of Hollingshead & Dudley represented plaintiff Cheri Watson, who alleged that defendant Randy Jones non-consensually disseminated her nude photos to her church, place of employment via the business’ social media accounts, her children’s schools and to her adult children.

Prior to the civil trial, Jones pleaded guilty in Jackson County to felony nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images and was given a five-year suspended sentence.

At trial, at which Jones was not represented by an attorney, the jury awarded $25,000 in actual damages and $250,000 in punitive damages. Judge Kenneth Garrett III later awarded $147,200 in legal fees to Hollingshead and Dudley.

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$422,200 verdict

Invasion of privacy

Breakdown: $25,000 in actual damages, $250,000 in punitive damages. $147,200 attorneys’ fees awarded post-trial

Venue: Jackson County Circuit Court at Independence

Case Number/Date: 2016-CV25653/Oct. 25, 2022

Judge: Kenneth Garrett III

Caption: Cheri Watson v. Randy Jones

Plaintiff’s Attorneys: Jeremy D. Hollingshead and Nicholas J. Dudley, Hollingshead & Dudley, St. Louis and Blue Springs

Defendant’s Attorney: None