A jury in Manhattan has found that the New York Times did not defame former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin concerning a 2017 editorial that she claimed damaged her reputation.
After just over two hours of deliberation, the jury reached its verdict in a civil trial that lasted two weeks.
Palin, visibly sullen when the decision was read aloud, expressed disappointment as the jury foreperson declared that the Times was found ‘not liable.’
In her testimony the day prior, Palin stated that following the editorial’s publication, she experienced an increase in death threats and a notable decline in her mental well-being.
The contentious editorial addressed gun violence and suggested Palin’s political action committee had contributed to a dangerous atmosphere of political rhetoric.
The Times moved quickly to correct the editorial, issuing a correction within 14 hours of its appearance online.
As she exited the courthouse, Palin remained composed, asserting to reporters that she was looking forward to returning home to her family, which includes five children and grandchildren.
Later, via a post on the social media platform X, she acknowledged her defeat in the lawsuit but reiterated her commitment to hold the press accountable for inaccuracies.
Palin’s attorney, Kenneth Turkel, indicated that the legal team will consider various post-trial and appellate options following the verdict.
In a statement released after the ruling, Danielle Rhoades Ha, a spokesperson for the Times, emphasized that the jury’s decision reaffirms a key principle in American law: publishers cannot be held liable for honest mistakes.
Turkel, during his closing arguments, urged jurors to hold the Times responsible for defamation, asserting that James Bennet, the former editorial page editor, either was aware of the inaccuracy or acted with ‘reckless disregard’ for the truth.
The attorney called for compensatory damages to be awarded to Palin for the harm done to her reputation and for the emotional distress she experienced as a result of the editorial.
He appealed to the jury for a verdict that would provide Palin with closure, stating, ‘To this day, there’s been no accountability. That’s why we’re here.’
Turkel described Palin’s demeanor during her testimony, pointing out that although she appeared energetic on the witness stand, the fallout from the editorial significantly impacted her life.
Palin, known for her role as the Republican vice-presidential nominee a decade earlier, initially filed the lawsuit in 2017.
Her claims arose from an editorial published after the shooting of U.S. Representative Steve Scalise by a man who had a history of opposing the GOP.
In the original editorial, the Times linked Palin’s political action committee to a climate of violence, referencing a map circulated in 2011 that depicted political adversaries under crosshairs.
However, the Times later corrected the article, stating that the editorial had ‘incorrectly stated that a link existed between political rhetoric and the 2011 shooting’ and that erroneous details regarding the map had been included.
James Bennet, who was at the helm of the editorial department at the time, expressed his regret during the trial, revealing that he felt distressed by the error and had acted swiftly to correct it in light of feedback from readers.
Felicia Ellsworth, an attorney representing the Times, argued to jurors that there was no evidence supporting claims of malice or negligence, insisting that the reported mistakes were driven by a commitment to accuracy.
Ellsworth highlighted the consistent testimonies of various Times editors who worked to rectify the mistake promptly.
‘For Governor Palin, this is just another opportunity to take on fake news, but for James Bennet, the truth matters,’ she asserted.
In a previous ruling in February 2022, Judge Jed S. Rakoff dismissed Palin’s claims, but the decision was later overturned by the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which found errors in the trial process that compromised the jury’s function.
Ultimately, the jury ruled against Palin, finding that the New York Times bore no legal liability regarding the editorial mistake.
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