A New York federal judge has rejected former US President Donald Trump’s petition for a new trial or judgment in the defamation case won by E. Jean Carroll, a renowned advice columnist and author. Carroll had won an $83.3 million jury verdict against Trump, consisting of $18.3 million in compensatory damages and a further $65 million in punitive damages. Trump’s plea was dismissed by Judge Lewis Kaplan, who found his motion “without merit.”
This isn’t the first time President Trump has challenged the verdict. He had previously argued that Judge Kaplan should have recused himself due to a conflict of interest.
Trump’s key arguments, such as the excessive amount allocated as compensatory damages and the constitutionality of the punitive damages, were addressed in detail during Judge Kaplan’s order. Not only did he dismiss some of these arguments, but he also elaborated on the extent of the harm caused to Carroll by Trump’s actions:
“Mr. Trump’s malicious and unceasing attacks on Ms. Carroll were disseminated to more than 100 million people. They included public threats and personal attacks, and they endangered Ms. Carroll’s health and safety. The jury was entitled to conclude that Mr. Trump derailed the career, reputation, and emotional well-being of one of America’s most successful and prominent advice columnists and authors – to which she testified repeatedly – and award her $18.3 million in compensatory damages.”
The judge referenced similar compensatory damages awarded in other defamation cases, remarking that the verdict was not historically unprecedented in New York. The nature of Trump’s statements, combined with his disruptive behaviour at trial and the massive reach of his audience, were considered sufficient grounds for the punitive damages ordered in this case.
President Trump has also contested the evidentiary standard applied to punitive damages in his case. The “preponderance of the evidence” standard, denoting that something is more likely true than not, was labeled as “too light” by the former president. Yet, Judge Kaplan rejected Trump’s request for a higher standard. His decree clarified that the jury could award punitive damages if they found Trump more likely than not had ill will towards Carroll when he disparaged her.
As his next legal course of action, Trump is expected to appeal the decision to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The former president has already given notice of his intent to do so.
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