Jury selection could determine Hogan vs. Gawker winner

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - A $100 million battle between wrestling star Hulk Hogan and celebrity gossip website Gawker is being fought in a Pinellas County courtroom.

The winner could come down to jury selection, so attorney Anthony Rickman explained how Tuesday's proceedings may affect the outcome.

Rickman says Gawker's legal team could be looking for jurors who believe the celebrity's private and public life is fair game. Those jurors could be people who read magazines like US Weekly, read Gawker regularly or watch reality TV shows.

On the other hand, Hogan's attorneys will want jurors who embrace privacy, especially regarding what happens in the bedroom.

"You also want somebody that grew up watching Hulk Hogan, " Rickman added.

Hogan is suing Gawker after the gossip site posted a clip from a sex tape involving Hogan and Heather Clem, who was married to radio shock-jock, Bubba the Love Sponge.

"And the question is... is what they reported news worthy? Is it something that has a value to it above and beyond an invasion of privacy? And what they are arguing is 'yes,'" Rickman said.

While Bubba gave his consent for the sexual rendezvous, Hogan said he never gave his okay to record it.

Rickman said everyone may expect some salacious testimony.

Bubba will be on the stand and may have to explain why he let his best friend have sex with his wife. As well as why he secretly recorded it.

Heather Clem may be asked about her role in the sex tape drama.

Other scandalous testimony may come from radio personality Matt "Spiceboy" Loyd, Bubba's former employee.

A Tampa Police investigation concluded Loyd stole the sex tape in a revenge plot against Bubba, then hired a sex tape broker to shop the tape around.

The star, the sex, the scandal - the jury will hear it all. The embarrassing details, Hogan said, cost him his career.