The New York Times has been ordered to pay $9.25 million in damages after an Alabama jury found the publication liable for defamation, specifically for falsely linking former college basketball player Kai Spears to a fatal shooting. This marks a significant legal defeat for the newspaper, which had reportedly not lost a defamation lawsuit in the United States for over five decades.

Defamation Lawsuit Details

The case centered on a March 2023 article written by New York Times reporter Billy Witz. The article incorrectly identified Spears, then an 18-year-old freshman walk-on for the University of Alabama, as a passenger in a vehicle present at the scene of a fatal shooting in January 2023. The shooting resulted in the death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris.

Witz based the erroneous identification on information from an anonymous source described as a “high-level person, professional.” However, during the proceedings, the reporter acknowledged the article contained a significant error. The jury, after a nine-day trial in the US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, unanimously ruled in favor of Spears.

The Reporting Error and Correction Timeline

The New York Times did not issue an editor’s note to correct the misinformation until June 2023, which was after Spears had already initiated his defamation lawsuit. The subsequent correction clarified that the individual in the car with University of Alabama star player Brandon Miller at the time of the shooting was not Kai Spears, but rather Cooper Lee, a student manager for the team.

The initial editor’s note stated: “The original version of this article, published March 15, misidentified the person who was in the car with [Crimson Tide star player] Brandon Miller when the shooting occurred. Based on information from a person familiar with the case, the article erroneously identified that person as Kai Spears, a freshman basketball player.”

The note further detailed that after the article’s initial publication, Alabama’s athletic director and Spears’s father denied his presence at the scene. While The Times included these denials and reviewed its reporting, it did not initially deem further changes necessary. However, following the filing of Spears’s lawsuit, which reportedly included new details, editors assigned additional reporting that confirmed the error and identified Cooper Lee as the actual individual present.

The New York Times expressed its disappointment with the verdict, with a spokesperson stating, “We’re disappointed the jury found The Times liable for an honest mistake. 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.”

Kai Spears’s Experience and Statement

Kai Spears, who was a freshman walk-on at the University of Alabama when the article was published, testified about the severe personal impact of the false report. He stated that he was not present at the scene of the shooting and felt the newspaper had not conducted adequate due diligence.

Spears recounted receiving numerous threats online, including messages urging him to commit suicide and labeling him and his team as murderers. “They’re just kind of putting this false narrative out… I mean, I did nothing wrong,” he said, expressing distress over the public dissemination of inaccurate information.

In a statement shared on Twitter following the initial report, Spears emphasized the inaccuracy of The New York Times’s reporting, stating, “The report in the New York Times was 100% inaccurate and the writer had complete disregard for the truth.” He also expressed gratitude to Alabama Athletics for refuting the claims on his behalf and conveyed his heartbreak over the tragic death of Jamea Harris.

Broader Implications and Legal Context

Matt Glover, an attorney representing Spears, conveyed satisfaction with the jury’s decision. He expressed a belief that the verdict could serve to enhance journalistic standards nationwide. “This verdict will improve journalism throughout the country,” Glover stated.

The case involved a shooting that led to charges against former University of Alabama basketball player Darius Miles and his friend, Michael Lynn Davis. Davis was subsequently convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole in connection with Jamea Harris’s death. Miles also faced capital murder charges.

The New York Times’s loss in this defamation case is particularly noteworthy given its historical record. The publication itself acknowledged that it had not lost a defamation lawsuit in the United States for more than 50 years prior to this verdict. The substantial damages awarded underscore the jury’s finding that the false report caused significant harm to Kai Spears’s reputation and well-being.

Conclusion

The $9.25 million judgment against The New York Times represents a significant legal and financial setback for the newspaper. The jury’s verdict in favor of Kai Spears highlights the critical importance of accuracy in reporting and the potential consequences of failing to verify information, particularly when dealing with sensitive and potentially damaging allegations. The case serves as a stark reminder for media organizations to uphold rigorous journalistic standards and exercise thorough due diligence to protect individuals from reputational harm caused by false reporting.