The New York Times has been ordered to pay $9.25 million in damages after an Alabama jury found the publication defamed former college basketball player Kai Spears by falsely linking him to a fatal 2023 shooting. The verdict marks the first time in approximately 50 years that The Times has lost a defamation lawsuit in the United States.
Following a nine-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, an eight-person jury ruled in favor of Spears, who was an 18-year-old freshman walk-on for the University of Alabama when the story was published in March 2023.
The lawsuit stemmed from an article written by Times reporter Billy Witz, which erroneously identified Spears as a passenger in the car at the scene of a January 2023 shooting that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris. Witz had relied on an anonymous source and later admitted the article contained a significant mistake.
A spokesperson for The Times stated, "We're disappointed the jury found The Times liable for an honest mistake. We thank the jury for its service, but believe the verdict and award of damages are contrary to law and not supported by the evidence. We are reviewing our legal options."
Matt Glover, an attorney for Spears, expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating, "this verdict will improve journalism throughout the country."
Previously, former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles and his childhood friend, Michael Lynn Davis, were charged with capital murder in connection with Harris’ death. Davis was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The Times did not publish an editor's note correcting the error until June 2023, after Spears had filed his lawsuit. The correction clarified that the person present at the scene was student manager Cooper Lee, not Spears. The original note stated that based on information from a person familiar with the case, the article had erroneously identified Spears. It further noted that after the article was published, Alabama's athletic director and Spears's father denied his presence. The Times reviewed its reporting but did not initially find grounds for further changes.
Spears, who was not present at the shooting, stated after filing his lawsuit in 2023 that he believed the newspaper had not conducted sufficient due diligence. He reported receiving threats on social media following the false report, describing a "false narrative" being published. He also expressed heartbreak over the "tragic death that occurred that knight."