The N.Y. Times (Katie Robertson) so reports, and adds that "The Times had not lost a defamation lawsuit brought in the United States over one of its articles in more than 50 years."
Here's an excerpt of the decision from Judge Annemarie Carney Axon (N.D. Ala.) in May (Spears v. N.Y. Times Co.) that allowed the case to go forward:
Plaintiff Kai Spears was a walk-on basketball player for The University of Alabama men's basketball team and developed close friendships with other teammates, including Brandon Miller. In the early hours of the morning on January 15, 2023, Mr. Spears and Mr. Miller visited Moe's Original BBQ in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Unbeknownst to Mr. Spears, another teammate—Darius Miles—asked Mr. Miller to bring Mr. Miles a gun that he had left in Mr. Miller's car. So Mr. Miller headed to Mr. Miles, and Mr. Spears started back to his dorm. A few minutes later, gunfire erupted on the Strip, and Michael Davis, Mr. Miles's childhood friend, shot and killed Jamea Harris using the gun that Mr. Miller had brought to Mr. Miles.
{Two months later, the Times published an article, titled "A Fourth Alabama Player Was at a Deadly Shooting, in a Car Hit by Bullets." The opening line said that the "fatal January shooting that involved players from the University of Alabama basketball team could have been even more deadly, as surveillance video showed that two players were in a car struck by bullets in the crossfire."
It added that Mr. Spears was in the car with Mr. Miller at the time of the shooting and that Mr. Miles had asked Mr. Miller to bring Mr. Miles's gun to the scene. The story said that the University had tried to "distance itself from the shooting" and keep "quiet" other players' involvement. The article then discussed widespread criticism that Mr. Miller and the University received when Mr. Miller continued to play after the shooting.}
The statements about Mr. Spears were false, and this lawsuit followed….
