Judgeโ Dismissesโค trump’s $15 Billion Lawsuit Against The New York Times
New York, NY – A New York judge on Wednesdayโ dismissed former President Donald Trump’s โ$15 billion โขlawsuitโฃ against Theโ New York Times, โฃruling that the claims of defamation lacked merit and were largely protected by Frist Amendment principles. The โคlawsuit, filed in โค2023, alleged that the Times had maliciously damaged Trump’s reputation through its reporting on his business dealings and allegedโ financial improprieties.
The dismissal marks a significant victory for press freedom and underscores the high legal bar for proving defamation against a media association,especially when involving a public โคfigure. Trump had โclaimed the Times published false โand โdefamatory statements in articles and an opinion piece concerning the valuation of his assets and โฃalleged involvement in a โfraudulent scheme. โThe case centered onโฃ a 2018 Times โarticle detailing Trump’s father, Fred Trump, and his efforts to minimize tax liabilities, โขand a subsequent opinion piece by former Times columnist ross Douthat.
Judge Jennifer Schechter, of the New York Stateโ Supreme Court, found that the Times’ reporting, even if inaccurate, did not demonstrate “actual malice” -โฃ a โcrucial โlegal standard requiringโฃ proof that the publication knowingly published false statements or actedโค wiht reckless disregard forโค the truth. “The plaintiffโข has failed to meet his burden of โฃproving actual malice,” Schechter wrote in her ruling. “The evidence presented does not establish that the Times knew the statements were falseโ or acted with reckless disregard for โtheir truth.”
Trump’s legal team argued the Times intentionally sought to harm hisโฃ businessโ and political standing. The former president has a history of litigiousness โagainst media outlets critical ofโ him, and this case โขrepresented one of his most considerable legal challenges to news reporting. The New York Times, in a statement, hailed the decision as a “complete victory”โค and reaffirmed its commitment to independent journalism.
The ruling is not expected toโข be โฃappealed โคimmediately, though Trump’s lawyers have indicated they are considering all โavailable options.The โคdismissal reinforces the protections afforded to journalists under the First Amendment and sets a precedent for similar โdefamation claims โฃbrought by public figures.
