When it comes to posting pornographic images and videos, the one thing people in the adult industry will tell you is that you have to get the person’s consent. This comes in the form of a written document commonly known as a model release.

If you don’t, there could be huge consequences, as a Texas man found out the hard way, and this little act of “Revenge” will end up costing Marques Jamal Jackson $1.2 billion in damages.

In a precedent-setting verdict, a Harris County state district court jury awarded a staggering $1.2 billion to a Houston woman in a case emblematic of the disturbing rise in image-based sexual abuse. The case, led by attorneys from the distinguished Gilde Law Firm, PLLC, and co-counsel, laid bare the haunting digital atrocities committed by a former boyfriend.

The harrowing details emerged in the courtroom. Marques Jamal Jackson, the defendant, was ordered to pay Jane Doe (identified as D.L.) $200 million for past and future emotional trauma, with an additional $1 billion slapped on as punitive damages. Jackson’s transgressions weren’t just limited to digital invasion. He impersonated D.L., committing fraudulent financial activities, and ruthlessly disseminated intimate photos and videos of her online.

As presented in the trial, all these acts were fueled by the malicious intent to “embarrass, harass, and humiliate” D.L. following the couple’s breakup in 2020.

Bradford J. Gilde, the lead trial attorney representing D.L., reflected on the historic verdict. “While we may never recover the full judgment, this verdict restores D.L.’s tarnished reputation. More than that, it serves as a clarion call against the growing menace of digital sexual abuse. D.L.’s valor in confronting her abuser and our collective hope is that this resounding judgment acts as a deterrent against such vile acts in the future.”

The malevolent tactics deployed by Jackson fall under what’s colloquially termed “revenge porn.” This nefarious form of abuse amalgamates elements of psychological torment, domestic violence, and sexual exploitation. Chilling evidence from the trial showed Jackson’s intent to ensure D.L.’s suffering was perpetual. He chillingly taunted, “[Y]ou will spend the rest of your life trying to erase your digital footprints.”

Such heinous acts aren’t isolated. A staggering statistic from the National Association of Attorneys General indicates that as of 2019, over 40 million individuals had reported falling victim to this form of abuse.

For reference, the landmark case is titled “Jane Doe (D.L.) v. Marques Jamal Jackson,” Cause No. 202220061, presided over in the 113th State District Court of Harris County, Texas.

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