Former Alabama basketball player wins $9.25m in defamation case against New York Times
Kai Spears incorrectly linked to death of young mother
TL;DR
- A jury awarded Kai Spears $9.25 million in damages in his defamation lawsuit against the New York Times.
- The lawsuit stemmed from a March 2023 report by the Times that incorrectly stated Spears was present at a fatal shooting.
- The Times later acknowledged its error and corrected the article, but Spears sued for emotional distress and reputational harm.
- The jury's verdict came after a nine-day trial, with Spears's attorney stating the decision will improve journalism.
- The New York Times expressed disappointment with the verdict, calling it an 'honest mistake' and stating they believe it is contrary to law and unsupported by evidence.