A jury in Alabama awarded former University of Alabama basketball player Kai Spears $9.25 million in damages after finding that the New York Times defamed him by falsely reporting he was present at a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa in 2023. The eight-person jury delivered the verdict after a nine-day trial in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on Thursday, marking the first defamation lawsuit the Times has lost in more than 50 years.
The Times published an article on March 15, 2023, by reporter Billy Witz that incorrectly identified Spears as a passenger in a car at the scene of a fatal shooting on the Tuscaloosa Strip. Spears, who was a walk-on basketball player at the university, was not present at the incident and sued the newspaper in May 2023 for defamation and invasion of privacy. The lawsuit alleged the false reporting caused him emotional distress and permanently linked him with the deadly shooting.
The jury awarded approximately $7.5 million in punitive damages as part of the total verdict, according to reporting from outlets covering the trial. The Times said in a statement that it was “disappointed the jury found The Times liable for an honest mistake” and indicated it is reviewing its legal options, suggesting a potential appeal.
The verdict carries significance in media law because the Times had successfully defended itself in defamation cases for decades. When the newspaper initially reported the error, it corrected the article after Spears disputed the identification. However, the jury determined that the initial publication, even with the subsequent correction, constituted actionable defamation. The case highlighted questions about how news organizations verify information from sources before publication, particularly when reporting on sensitive incidents involving named individuals.
The Times’ loss stands in contrast to its track record since the landmark 1964 Supreme Court decision in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, which set a high bar for public figures to win defamation cases by requiring them to prove actual malice. That ruling has protected news organizations in numerous subsequent defamation disputes. Other recent media defamation cases have seen mixed outcomes, with some defendants prevailing and others facing significant liability, underscoring the evolving landscape of media law.
Spears transferred from Alabama after the 2023-24 season. The verdict, if it stands on appeal, will represent a rare instance where a major news organization has been found liable for a defamation claim in recent decades, potentially affecting how newsrooms approach source verification and fact-checking procedures.
Sources
- AP News — Alabama jury verdict awarding $9.25 million to Spears and finding Times defamed him
- The New York Times — Times’ own reporting on the verdict and statement characterizing the error as an honest mistake
- Washington Post — Context on Times’ 50-year record of not losing defamation lawsuits
- Tuscaloosa News — Details on the trial, damages breakdown, and Times’ statement
- Sportico — Analysis of the $7.5 million punitive damages component
