Deputies allegedly took personal cellphone photos -- and were then told by Villanueva to delete them -- in the aftermath of the Jan. 26 accident.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, including punitive damages.
Kobe Bryant crash: Sheriff says 8 deputies involved in taking unauthorized photos of scene
In early March, Vanessa Bryant's attorney said in a statement that she was "absolutely devastated" that deputies reportedly shared the graphic photos of the crash scene where Bryant, their daughter and seven others were killed.
Attorney Gary Robb says Vanessa Bryant personally went to the sheriff's office the day of the crash and requested that the area be protected from photographers.
DEVELOPING: More details will be added to this report as they become available.