The New York Times faces a significant legal setback following a defamation lawsuit, with an Alabama jury ruling in favor of Kai Spears, a former college basketball player for the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide. The verdict requires the Times to pay $9.25 million in damages.
Background of the Case
Kai Spears, an 18-year-old freshman walk-on basketball player, was linked to a January 2023 fatal shooting in a March 2023 report by Times sportswriter Billy Witz. Spears was incorrectly identified as a passenger in a car at the shooting site, which resulted in the death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris.
The Times issued an editor’s note in June 2023 to address the false identification, but only after Spears filed the defamation lawsuit at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
Details of the Trial
During the nine-day trial, it emerged that Witz’s reporting relied on an anonymous source who misidentified Spears. Witz believed the source was reliable due to their job title and access to case materials. However, Witz conceded under oath that the report contained an undeniable mistake.
An additional anonymous source suggested a different individual, describing them as a white basketball team member but failing to name Spears.
Verdict and Response
Following the jury’s decision, the Times expressed disappointment but asserted the error was an honest mistake. The publication plans to review legal options, contesting the verdict as unsupported by evidence.
The Times noted it had not lost a defamation suit over one of its articles in the U.S. in more than fifty years.
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