legal-and-media2 months ago
Alabama Jury Awards $9.25M to Basketball Player in Historic NYT Defamation Verdict
A federal jury in Alabama awarded $9.25 million to former University of Alabama basketball player Kai Spears after finding The New York Times defamed him by incorrectly reporting he was present at a fatal shooting in 2023. The verdict, which includes $7.5 million in punitive damages, marks the first time in over 50 years that the newspaper has lost a defamation lawsuit in the United States. The Times has stated it is reviewing its legal options and intends to appeal, calling the ruling an 'honest mistake' rather than actionable wrongdoing.
