A jury in Alabama has awarded $9.25 million in damages to a college basketball player after finding that The New York Times defamed him by wrongly reporting that he was present at the scene of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa.
Kai Spears, a former player for the University of Alabama men’s basketball team, filed a lawsuit against the newspaper in 2023 over a report that incorrectly identified him as a passenger in a car connected to the shooting, reports AP.
The report was based on information from a person familiar with the investigation who spoke anonymously, citing the sensitivity of the case.
The New York Times acknowledged the error several days later by publishing an editor’s note and correcting the report.
The eight-member jury delivered its verdict after a nine-day trial in the US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
Matt Glover, an attorney for Spears, welcomed the verdict, saying he believed it could help improve journalism across the country.
The New York Times said it was reviewing its legal options after the verdict.
“We’re disappointed the jury found The New York Times liable for an honest mistake,” spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander said in a statement Thursday. “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.”
Three other Alabama basketball players were present at the January 2023 shooting, in which a 23-year-old mother was killed.
In his lawsuit, Spears said the inaccurate report caused him emotional distress and permanently linked his name to the killing.
In its report on Thursday’s verdict, The New York Times said it had not lost a defamation lawsuit in the United States over one of its articles in more than 50 years.
