Trump Ordered to Pay $83.3 Million in Compensatory and Punitive Damages in Defamation Lawsuit
Key Takeaways from the Trial and Verdict
In a landmark verdict, a jury has ordered former President Donald Trump to pay renowned author E. Jean Carroll a staggering $83.3 million in compensatory and punitive damages in a defamation lawsuit she filed against him. The jury’s decision, reached after a week-long trial in New York, marks a significant victory for Carroll and sends a clear message that defamatory behavior will not be tolerated.
1. Jury Awards E. Jean Carroll $83.3 Million in Damages
The jury’s verdict includes $18.3 million in compensatory damages, intended to compensate Carroll for the emotional distress, reputational harm, and lost opportunities she suffered as a result of Trump’s defamatory statements. Additionally, the jury awarded Carroll $65 million in punitive damages, a significant sum intended to punish Trump for his actions and deter him from engaging in similar behavior in the future.
2. Trump’s Defamatory Statements Found to Have Caused Carroll Harm
The jury found that Trump’s public statements about Carroll, in which he denied her rape allegations and labeled her a liar, were defamatory and caused her considerable harm. Carroll’s attorneys argued that Trump’s statements were “dripping with malice, with hate” and that he should be punished with an “unusually high” amount of punitive damages to deter him from making similar statements in the future.
3. Trump Walks Out of Court During Closing Arguments
In a defiant move, Trump left the courtroom in the middle of Carroll’s attorney’s closing argument, demonstrating his continued unwillingness to accept responsibility for his actions. He was admonished several times by the judge for speaking audibly from the defense table and for going beyond the tightly controlled testimony he was permitted to give. Trump did not return to the courtroom for the verdict.
4. Verdict Sends a Message That Trump’s Defamatory Behavior Will Not Be Tolerated
The jury’s verdict sends a strong message that a jury of regular citizens did not believe Trump’s denials of Carroll’s sexual assault allegations and that his defamatory behavior will not be tolerated. It is a significant victory for Carroll and for victims of sexual assault who have been subjected to similar attacks.
Additional Points of Interest
1. Endless Appeals and Delays Expected
Trump is expected to appeal the verdict, as he has done with the previous verdict in Carroll’s defamation lawsuit. Carroll may not see the money awarded by the jury for years, as the appeals process could be lengthy.
2. Trump’s Civil Fraud Trial and Criminal Indictments
The defamation verdict comes ahead of a judge’s expected decision later this month in Trump’s civil fraud trial, which could threaten his business empire. Trump is also facing four criminal indictments and a US Supreme Court hearing on whether he can appear on the ballot as the Republican presidential nominee.
3. Judge Repeatedly Admonishes Trump’s Attorney
Judge Lewis Kaplan repeatedly admonished Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, during Friday’s closing arguments, warning her that she could spend time “in the lock up” if she continued to push the envelope. This is a pattern that has played out across Trump’s two fall civil trials, where his lawyers have tried to push the limits of the law.
Conclusion
The jury’s verdict in the defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump is a significant victory for E. Jean Carroll and for victims of sexual assault who have been subjected to similar attacks. The verdict sends a strong message that defamatory behavior will not be tolerated and that those who engage in such behavior will be held accountable. However, the verdict is likely to be appealed, and it could be years before Carroll sees the money awarded by the jury.