Gawker loses sex-tape fight with Hulk Hogan

It's official: Media company Gawker has lost the lawsuit over a sex-tape brought against it by former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan.

After about three hours of delibrations on Friday afternoon, the jury in the case came back a verdict finding that Gawker violated Hogan's privacy.

In total, Gawker will have to pay Hogan $115 million in compensatory damages, plus additional punitive damages. Those additional damages will be decided on Monday.

Gawker had been preparing for this verdict, and hinted earlier on Friday that "an appeal could be necessary."

At issue during the trial was a tape obtained by Gawker and published in 2012, featuring Hogan (real name Terry Bollea) in an encounter with the wife of a friend. It was edited to less than two minutes long and appeared on a page without advertising.

Hogan says that the video's release caused him "lasting humilation." He originally sought $100 million in damages. Gawker's argument was that Hogan was a public figure who had often discussed his sex life in public, thus making the tape's release newsworthy.

Gawker is the high-brow gossip sheet covering media, entertainment, politics and technology.