NYT Loses Defamation Lawsuit in Alabama

A jury has awarded $9.25 million in damages to former University of Alabama basketball player Kai Spears in his defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. The suit centered on a March 15, 2023, article that incorrectly reported Spears was present at the scene of a fatal shooting on January 15, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon denied The Times' motion for summary judgment, ruling that a reader could infer Spears might have been "complicit" or "involved" in the incident based on the reporting. The article stated that Spears being at the scene "had not been previously reported" and that neither of the two bullets that struck the car of star player Brandon Miller hit either Miller or Spears.

In reality, Spears was not involved in the shooting and was not present. The incident involved former player Darius Miles allegedly retrieving a gun and giving it to Michael Davis, who then shot and killed Jamea Harris. The person believed to be Spears in the Times' reporting was identified as Cooper Lee, the Crimson Tide basketball team manager.

Spears, who has since transferred to Marshall University, claims the mistaken reporting caused him anxiety and stress, as other media outlets, including Fox News and ESPN, relied on The Times' report. Spears was "bombarded with texts, calls and mentions on social media" about his alleged involvement.

The New York Times argued that Spears had not produced sufficient evidence for a jury trial, asserting it did not accuse him of a crime or present information a reasonable person would find "highly offensive." The newspaper also contended that the "gist" of its reporting was substantially true, suggesting Spears was portrayed as a potential victim in a shooting that "could have been more deadly."

However, Judge Axon's decision to deny summary judgment indicates a belief that there are genuine disputes of material fact regarding the accuracy and offensiveness of the reporting, necessitating a trial.