New York Times ordered to pay $9.25M in Alabama defamation case

An Alabama jury has awarded $9.25 million in damages to former University of Alabama basketball player Kai Spears, ruling that The New York Times defamed him. The verdict follows a nine-day civil trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

The lawsuit stemmed from a March 2023 report regarding a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa that killed 23-year-old Jamea Harris. The Times erroneously reported, citing an anonymous source, that Spears was a passenger in a vehicle involved in the incident. Although the newspaper published a correction days later, Spears claimed the inaccurate reporting caused emotional distress and falsely linked him to a homicide.

This marks the first time in over 50 years that The New York Times has lost a defamation lawsuit in the United States. A spokesperson for the newspaper, Charlie Stadtlander, expressed disappointment, stating the jury found the outlet liable for an ‘honest mistake’ and that the award is ‘contrary to law.’ The Times is currently reviewing its legal options.