SOUTHLAKE, Texas – A North Texas woman has been awarded $450,000 in a landmark revenge porn case. Sadaf Khan filed a lawsuit against a man for stealing sexually explicit images and videos from her phone and sending them to her own mother. The jury unanimously ruled in her favor, ordering the defendant to pay $150,000 for mental anguish and $300,000 in punitive damages.
Khan, who now resides in Southlake, accused the man, identified as Syed Bilal, of distributing revenge porn after she turned down his marriage proposal. Revenge porn refers to the non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit images or videos of an individual.
According to the lawsuit, Bilal began pursuing Khan romantically in 2020, frequently showing up at her residence in Bedford and later Euless, as well as her workplace in Irving. When Khan rejected his advances, Bilal allegedly hacked into her phone and stole explicit material.
In April 2021, Bilal proposed to Khan and threatened to share the photos and videos with her friends and family if she declined. As Khan comes from a traditional Pakistani community, the threat was particularly serious. Despite the threat, Khan rejected the proposal. In response, Bilal sent the explicit content to one person – Khan’s mother, who resides in California.
Bilal went on to spread false information, claiming he and Khan were already married and that she had cheated on him. In November 2021, Khan obtained a protective order against Bilal in Tarrant County. During the court proceedings, Bilal admitted to being legally married to two women, including one religious marriage required for sexual intimacy.
The invasion of privacy had a profound impact on Khan, leaving her feeling vulnerable and terrified. It also strained her relationships with friends and family, including her mother. Khan expressed her hope that her case would serve as an example for other women facing threats and harassment.
Texas law, enacted in 2015, prohibits the distribution of intimate visual material without the consent of the depicted person and holds violators liable for damages. This recent verdict is among the highest payouts in Texas involving revenge porn.
Sadaf Khan, the victim of revenge porn, has been awarded $450,000 by a jury in a groundbreaking case. Khan sued a man for stealing explicit material from her phone and subsequently sending it to her mother. The jury unanimously ruled in her favor, granting her $150,000 for mental anguish and $300,000 in punitive damages.
Khan, who currently resides in Southlake, accused Syed Bilal of revenge porn after rejecting his marriage proposal. Revenge porn involves sharing sexually explicit images or videos without the person’s consent.
According to the lawsuit, Bilal relentlessly pursued Khan in 2020, frequently visiting her home and workplace. When she turned him down, Bilal hacked into her phone and stole explicit material.
In April 2021, Bilal proposed to Khan and threatened to expose the content to her loved ones if she refused. Due to the traditional views of her Pakistani community, this threat weighed heavily on Khan. Nevertheless, she rejected Bilal’s proposal, prompting him to send the explicit material to her mother in California.
Bilal proceeded to spread false rumors, claiming he and Khan were already married and that she had been unfaithful. Consequently, Khan obtained a protective order against Bilal in November 2021.
Khan endured significant emotional distress and strain on her relationships as a result of the invasion of privacy. She hopes her case will inspire and support other women facing threats and harassment.
The verdict highlights the importance of Texas law, which criminalizes revenge porn and holds offenders accountable for damages. With one of the largest payouts for revenge porn in Texas, this ruling is set to serve as a deterrent for similar cases in the future.