NEW YORK — The New York Times did not defame former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a jury concluded Tuesday.
The verdict is largely symbolic. Judge Jed Rakoff has already said Palin failed to prove her case and vowed to dismiss her lawsuit. Rakoff said Palin failed to prove the Times acted with “actual malice” when it inaccurately linked her to a 2011 mass shooting in an editorial. As a public figure, Palin faced a higher legal burden than the average citizen to prove defamation.
The jury verdict will factor in Palin’s expected appeal.
