‘A Mistake That Cost Millions’: New York Times Ordered to Pay $9.25 Million in Defamation Lawsuit
The New York Times has been ordered to pay $9.25 million in damages after an Alabama jury found the newspaper defamed former University of Alabama basketball player Kai Spears in a 2023 report that wrongly linked him to a fatal shooting. The eight-person jury reached its verdict after a nine-day trial, marking the first time the Times has lost a defamation lawsuit brought in the United States over one of its articles in more than 50 years. The March 2023 article, authored by sportswriter Billy Witz, falsely identified Spears, then an 18-year-old walk-on freshman, as being a passenger in a car at the site of a January shooting that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris. The Times issued a lengthy editor’s note in June 2023—but only after Spears filed his defamation lawsuit. The note acknowledged the error, stating that “the other person at the scene was not Spears but Cooper Lee, a student manager for the team.”
During the trial, Witz testified that he relied on an anonymous source he described as a “high-level person, professional,” who claimed Spears was at the scene. He conceded from the witness stand, “Yes, [the story] had a mistake, no question.” The jury ultimately awarded Spears $9.25 million in damages, finding that the Times had defamed the young athlete. A Times spokesperson expressed disappointment with the verdict, stating, “We’re disappointed the jury found The Times liable for an honest mistake. We thank the jury for its service, but believe the verdict and award of damages are contrary to law and not supported by the evidence. We are reviewing our legal options.” Spears’ legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The case serves as a stark reminder of the power and responsibility of the press—and the real-world consequences when that responsibility is breached.
Courtesy of:
BLN ENTERTAINMENT TV
“where Entertainment meets EXCELLENCE “
www.BLNENTERTAINMENTTV.com
#BLNEtv #BLNEntertainmenttv #Video #Faith #Christ #BlessingLightHallowed
