A jury in Alabama has ordered The New York Times to pay $9.25 million in damages for defaming a college basketball player by incorrectly reporting that he was at the scene of a fatal shooting. This was reported by infohub.kz.
Kai Spears, who played for the University of Alabama men's team, sued the Times in 2023 after it published a report, citing a person familiar with the investigation, that indicated he was a passenger in a car involved in the shooting. The Times later acknowledged its error in an editor's note and corrected the story.
The eight-person jury delivered its verdict after a nine-day trial. Matt Glover, an attorney for Spears, said he was pleased with the decision and believes "this verdict will improve journalism throughout the country."
Charlie Stadtlander, a spokesperson for The Times, expressed disappointment. "We're disappointed the jury found The Times liable for an honest mistake," Stadtlander said in a statement. "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."
The January 2023 shooting killed a 23-year-old mother. Three other basketball players from the school were present at the scene. In the lawsuit, Spears claimed the inaccurate reporting had caused him emotional distress and forever linked him with a murder.
It is worth noting that The Times had not lost a defamation lawsuit brought in the United States over one of its articles in more than 50 years.