CNN Loses Defamation Trial Over Afghan Evacuation Report

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com ^ | January 17, 2025 | Winston Cho

[Enterprise]

CNN defamed a U.S. Navy veteran in a 2021 report portraying him as illegally exploiting Afghans by charging exorbitant fees to be evacuated in the aftermath of the U.S. military withdrawal from the country, a jury has found.

A Florida jury on Friday awarded Zachary Young, a security consultant who said the story destroyed his business and reputation, $5 million after a nine-day defamation trial, The Washington Post reporter Jeremy Barr, who was onsite for the trial, reported. The damages verdict doesn’t account for punitive damages, intended to punish particularly malicious conduct, which will push the total higher.

[Enterprise]

[mairdie]

A pittance compared to what juries took from Trump and Guliani.

[xp38]

Lefties losing it

[dfwgator]

They never had it.

[libertylover]

A Florida jury on Friday awarded Zachary Young, a security consultant who said the story destroyed his business and reputation, $5 million after a nine-day defamation trial,

Not nearly enough. Should've been $50 million.

[marktwain]

Sounds positive.

Probably much more in punitive damages.

[ByteMercenary]

“Probably much more in punitive damages.”

Hopefully it is substantially more ... but can CNN pony up that much cash without filing for bankruptcy? It would not surprise me to see CNN declare bankruptcy and seek financial protection resulting in no payout at all ...

[know.your.why]

The Benefit Of Going To Law

Two beggars traveling along,
One blind, the other lame.
Pick'd up an oyster on the way,
To which they both laid claim:

The matter rose so high, that they
Resolv'd to go to law,
As often richer fools have done,
Who quarrel for a straw.

A lawyer took it straight in hand,
Who knew his business was
To mind nor one nor t'other side,
But make the best o' the cause,

As always in the law's the case;
So he his judgment gave,
And lawyer-like he thus resolv'd
What each of them should have;

Blind plaintif, lame defendant, share
The friendly laws impartial care,
A shell for him, a shell for thee,
The middle is the lawyer's fee.


From the Poor Richard almanac. (Benjamin Franklin)

[MayflowerMadam]

That’s good.

[Enterprise]

Bump!

[Billthedrill]

Now this is interesting:

The award doesn’t account for punitive damages, intended to punish particularly malicious conduct, which will push the total higher.

I'd be asking for Jake Tapper's head on a plate, but it probably isn't worth that much.

[Delta 21]

Hey. This is a war zone! Theres gonna be some malicious conduct!