Hulk Hogan Can Legally Investigate Leaked Racist Rant

The Tampa Bay Times has provided several updates for Hulk Hogan’s $100 million lawsuit against Gawker.

Hogan’s legal team will be allowed to investigate their claim that Gawker were the ones behind the leak of Hogan’s racist rant from his sex tape. Circuit Judge Pamela Campbell wrote a nine-page order and ruled on Wednesday that because of the seriousness of Hogan’s claims, he is allowed to a “forensic inspection” of Gawker employees’ computers, servers, emails and text message. The investigator can only use the terms “racist”, “Hulk Hogan” and “DVD details” when searching..

This will allow for a court-appointed expert, hired a Hogan’s expense, to look at the communication between Gawker founder/chief executive Nick Denton, company president Heather Dietrick and former editor AJ Daulerio. Other Gawker employees will likely not have their personal devices searched. It’s unknown if that means their work communication is also safe.

The time frame that Hogan’s team can search for his between June 26 and August 6. The former is when the federal judge ordered the FBI to turn over evidence to Gawker from its investigation of the sex tape. The order goes into effect next month, which means Gawker can appeal.