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Federal Jury Awards $9.25 Million to Former Alabama Basketball Player in Defamation Suit Against The New York Times
Just the facts
An eight-person jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama ordered The New York Times to pay $9.25 million in damages to former University of Alabama basketball player Kai Spears. The legal action stemmed from a 2023 news report in which the newspaper incorrectly named Spears as a passenger in a vehicle during a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, that killed a 23-year-old woman. Although The New York Times issued a correction and published an editor's note days after publication, Spears filed a defamation lawsuit alleging the report caused him severe emotional distress and falsely linked him to a homicide. Defense representatives stated that the organization is reviewing its legal options regarding the verdict, while legal analysts noted Alabama state statutory caps may reduce the award by over $2 million.
Why this is news
An Alabama federal jury found The New York Times liable for defamation after the newspaper falsely reported that former University of Alabama basketball player Kai Spears was present at a fatal 2023 shooting in Tuscaloosa.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.