An Alabama jury has awarded millions in damages to former walk-on University of Alabama basketball player Kai Spears in his defamation lawsuit against The New York Times.
The verdict was reached Thursday evening in the civil trial following roughly five hours of deliberation, the Tuscaloosa Patch first reported. Jurors found the NYT liable on Spears’ claims of defamation and false light/invasion of privacy, according to the Patch.
The verdict comes after the NYT published an article in 2023 that falsely said he was present at the scene of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa, the outlet reported on Thursday. The eight-member jury awarded the player $9.25 million in damages, according to the NYT.
“I first want to thank God for the outcome,” Spears told the Patch on Thursday. “I was honored to have an amazing legal team and I’m so thankful to [attorneys] Stephen New, Matt Glover and Ginger Buck for fighting the case on my behalf.”
“It’s been a long journey to get to this point and I’m grateful to the jury for awarding this case in my favor,” he continued. “My hope is that we all lead with love and always seek the one constant truth in this life.”
NYT Executive Director of Media Relations and Communications Charlie Stadtlander told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a Friday statement that the outlet is reviewing its legal options following Thursday’s verdict.
“We’re disappointed the jury found The Times liable for an honest mistake,” Stadtlander told the DCNF. “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. We are reviewing our legal options.”
(DCNF)