A Florida jury has found CNN guilty of defamation against Zachary Young, a Navy veteran, over an erroneous report that aired in November 2021.
The jury decided in favor of Young, granting him $5 million in damages for emotional distress and financial losses, The Daily Caller reported.
Zachary Young initiated a $1 billion defamation lawsuit against CNN on June 12. The legal action stemmed from a report aired on “The Lead with Jake Tapper” by Alex Marquardt that misrepresented Young’s evacuation efforts during the crisis in Afghanistan.
An essential point in the lawsuit was the claim that the segment misrepresented Young’s actions as exploitative. This resulted in the jury awarding Young $4 million for lost income, and an additional $1 million for emotional damage.
In October, Judge William A. Henry clarified that Young's activities during the operations were neither illegal nor criminal, thereby supporting Young's claims of ethical conduct.
The defamation trial commenced on January 6 in Bay County, Florida. CNN's decision not to verify the information presented in the 2021 report was highlighted during the proceedings.
During the trial, emails exchanged between CNN employees were brought to light, adding gravity to Young’s accusations. Journalist Alex Marquardt maintained during his testimony that he did not discover any evidence of crimes perpetrated by Young.
Alex Marquardt noted in one of the communications, "We gonna nail this Zachary Young mfucker." This sentiment was echoed by another CNN employee's reply, "gonna hold you to that, cowboy."
Despite the erroneous report, CNN issued an on-air correction in March 2022. Pamela Brown from CNN said, "We did not intend to suggest that Mr. Young participated in the black market. We regret the error, and to Mr. Young we apologize."
The jury also deliberated the punitive damages phase, which concluded on Friday. Despite the award, CNN and Young’s legal teams agreed on a settlement following the trial's conclusion.
A spokesperson from CNN stated to the Daily Caller News Foundation, "We remain proud of our journalists and are 100% committed to strong, fearless and fair-minded reporting at CNN, though we will of course take what useful lessons we can from this case."
Young’s legal victory underscores the significance of accurate reporting and verification of facts in the media industry. This case serves as a reminder of the influential power media holds and the responsibility that comes with it.
The central issues included Young's $1 billion lawsuit filed against CNN, a report misrepresenting his actions, a $5 million damages award, and a post-trial settlement agreement. CNN's admittance of reporting errors and subsequent apology were also significant.
