New York Times Ordered to Pay $9.25 Million in Defamation Lawsuit to Former Alabama Basketball Player
A federal jury in Alabama has ordered The New York Times to pay $9.25 million in damages to Kai Spears, a former walk-on basketball player for the University of Alabama. The verdict came after a nine-day federal trial in Tuscaloosa, where the jury found that the newspaper defamed Spears in a March 2023 report. The article falsely claimed Spears was in the car with fellow player Brandon Miller at the scene of a fatal shooting that occurred on January 15, 2023, resulting in the death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris. The New York Times later issued a correction, stating that a team representative, not Spears, was in the vehicle. Spears filed a defamation lawsuit, arguing that the false report unjustly linked him to the homicide and caused emotional distress and reputational damage. The New York Times expressed disappointment with the ruling, calling it an 'honest mistake' and stating that the compensation is not supported by evidence or law, as they consider their legal options. This marks the first time in over ... 
