They are being ordered to pay out.
A Florida jury ruled on Friday that CNN defamed a U.S. Navy veteran, Zachary Young, in a 2021 report about individuals allegedly paid to help endangered Afghans after the Taliban’s takeover. This ruling is notable, as defamation cases against media outlets are challenging due to high legal standards protecting news organizations. The jury in Panama City deliberated for over eight hours before finding in favor of Young, who claimed that CNN’s report damaged his business by airing his face while associating him with a “black market” for smuggling Afghans out of the country for large fees.
Young was awarded $5 million in compensatory damages, with additional punitive damages to be settled later on Friday, though the exact terms of that settlement remain confidential. He argued that his business focused on helping sponsors afford to evacuate Afghans, not directly charging the individuals involved. CNN acknowledged the use of the term “black market” was incorrect but defended the accuracy of its reporting. The network chose not to comment directly on the verdict but expressed continued support for its journalists and their commitment to fair reporting.
The trial, held in a conservative region, saw Young’s legal team encourage jurors to send a strong message to the media. Jurors posed questions that seemed to reflect skepticism about CNN’s portrayal of Young, with one asking whether the network had treated him as guilty until proven innocent. Additionally, private messages from CNN reporter Alex Marquardt, which contained disparaging remarks about Young, were presented during the trial. Marquardt maintained that the story was not intended as a personal attack.
Defamation cases in the U.S. are uncommon, largely due to constitutional protections for the press, which make it difficult for plaintiffs to win such lawsuits. In other instances, media companies have chosen to settle rather than face lengthy trials. For example, ABC News settled a libel case with former President Donald Trump last month, agreeing to pay $15 million. Similarly, Fox News settled a lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for $787 million over false reporting related to the 2020 election.
