CNN DEFAMATION SUIT INVOLVING A NAVY VETERAN ENDS WITH $5M SETTLEMENT
A U.S. Navy Veteran just won a defamation case that he filed against CNN thanks to a Florida jury. Back in 2021, CNN ran a story about an operation that involved Zachary Young and his actions, alleging that he collected huge amounts of money from people fleeing Afghanistan.
According to the Veteran, CNN's story misrepresented what really happened, and this affected his business and caused mental distress. Fortunately, he won the case. This big win against a huge corporation shows that there is still support for the military community. This CNN defamation case hopes to be a reminder to every news outlet out there that they should report only the truth as expected of them.
Navy Veteran Wins in a CNN Defamation Case
After more than eight hours of deliberation, a Florida jury favored Zachary Young, who accused CNN of ruining his business. Young claimed that by featuring his face on TV during an article about a "black market" that smuggled out Afghans for a huge amount of money, he lost revenues. In addition to Young receiving $5 million in damages from the jury, CNN is now being asked to decide whether to pay further punitive penalties.
Young maintained that rather than charging individual Afghans up to $10,000 for the service, his company catered to those who could afford to pay to leave. CNN said that its coverage of Young was factual, even though it claimed that the term "black market" was incorrect.
Holding CNN Accountable
The jury found that CNN was responsible for defamation by inference, which means that Young's reputation was harmed by the statements CNN used. Vel Freedman, Young's principal lawyer, said that CNN should be held accountable because of the damage they brought in both monetary and emotional pain. Freedman informed the jury at the end of his closing statements that it was the right time to hold the media responsible.
Media executives around the country are waiting by the phones to see what they will do; Freedman told jurors. He urged them to communicate with the media outlets that are anxiously awaiting the outcome of this extraordinary case.
After the initial verdict, Judge William S. Henry informed the jurors that they could only grant punitive damages for the actions of CNN in this specific instance and not for any other story. They were unable to impose a strict price tag because of the agreement.
Young's lead attorney, in an email, said he was pleased with the result. "We cleared my client's name, won punitive damages, and then settled to avoid protracted appeals," Freedman says. This was the ideal method to settle this case, he stated.
CNN Stands by Its Journalism
The Associated Press was informed by CNN that it would not comment on the decision. CNN said that they remain proud of their journalists and they are 100% committed to strong, fearless, and fair-minded reporting. However, they are also willing to take what useful lessons they can from this case.
Young's attorneys asked jurors to send a message to the media during a trial held in a conservative region of the nation. One juror's question on whether CNN had treated the plaintiff as guilty unless proven innocent was one of several hostile ones that were submitted during the trial.
The trial also included private communications, with plaintiffs presenting internal exchanges in which CNN reporter Alex Marquardt used foul language and made disparaging remarks about Young. During the trial, Marquardt stated in his testimony that his report "was not a hit piece."
Jake Tapper's CNN show included Marquardt's article for the first time on November 11, 2021, and the network's website featured more printed versions of the story.
Other Defamation Settlements and Trials
Due in part to the strong constitutional protections for the press, it is difficult to prove libel. This is why the result of this CNN defamation case was a big surprise to everyone. The media has said that many executives are afraid to risk presenting their cases before a court or jury.
Instead of defending statements he made about the former president last spring, ABC News agreed last month to pay $15 million to George Stephanopoulos for his presidential library as part of the settlement of his libel claim against Trump. Walt Disney Co., ABC's parent company, finally decided that a battle against Trump was not worth it, regardless of the outcome.
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