CUNY prof wins $30M in NY’s first revenge porn suit against ex who posted her naked videos, photos online
A CUNY public health professor specializing in sexuality secured a landmark victory in a revenge porn lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend, winning a staggering $30 million, the largest such verdict in New York City, according to her attorney.
Dr. Spring Chenoa Cooper, aged 43, received the substantial award from a Manhattan jury after a six-year legal battle initiated when she filed New York City’s inaugural revenge porn case against Brooklyn comedian Ryan Broems. Following their breakup, Broems allegedly posted explicit videos and photos of Cooper online.
Reflecting on the verdict, Cooper expressed relief and validation, stating, “It’s been the worst six years since this all started. It means so much that the jury could validate my experiences and see how much pain and trauma this has caused me and continues to cause me.”
Cooper, an associate professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, initiated legal action against Broems in 2018, accusing him of disseminating intimate content on platforms like Tumblr, alongside her professional profiles.
Broems, aged 37, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor of disclosure of an intimate image in a related criminal case in December 2021. He received a 26-week program attendance sentence for abusive partners and a five-year restraining order.
Despite Broems’ absence and lack of representation during the trial, the jury found him liable for damages owed to Cooper. While the likelihood of receiving the awarded sum is uncertain, Cooper emphasized the symbolic significance of the verdict as a deterrent against similar behavior.
“I’m grateful that the jury sent a message to my ex and every person who has even considered posting an intimate image or video of someone without their consent, that this is not something our society condones,” she emphasized. “In fact, it’s a sexual assault, we find it reprehensible, and the justice system is on our side.”
The ordeal deeply affected Cooper’s personal and professional life, leading her to advocate for victims of cybersexual abuse. She joined New York's cyber sexual abuse task force and incorporated the issue into her academic research.
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