last Friday A Florida judge sided with U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young. which is suing CNN for defamation In several important matters Meanwhile, the high-stakes trial begins next month.
Young accused CNN of defaming him by insinuating that he was illegally profiting through the “black market” when helping people flee Afghanistan during the Biden administration’s withdrawal of troops from the country in 2021. Young believes CNN “discredited” CNN. and his business” later that year, Jake Tapper’s show “The Lead” was shared on social media and was also repackaged for CNN’s website.
Judge William Henry denied CNN’s request for summary judgment. By allowing yet He “pursued a claim for punitive damages” and announced that the court found that he “No money received from Afghans”
CNN faces defamation lawsuit over Afghanistan withdrawal story: ‘Evidence of actual physical harm’
A photo of plaintiff Zachary Young was broadcast by CNN during the segment in question. (CNN/Screenshot)
“Despite claiming that After ‘three weeks of news gathering’ and ‘speaking with more than a dozen sources,’ representatives for the defendants conceded that there was no evidence that Young committed a criminal or illegal act, but that the defendants used Black Market Chyron as sufficient evidence. where a reasonable jury could find convincingly that the defendant acted with malice to escape summary judgment on this issue,” Judge Henry ruled in court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. .
“The defendant has no evidence of illegal activity and Young says he did not contract or accept money from any person. However, the defendant published his name and photograph as a bad child actor who victimized Afghans,” he said. Continuing, “Accordingly, the evidence in the record can support the conclusion that Defendants broadcast and posted the content knowing that a significant portion of it was false or with reckless consideration as to whether a significant portion of it was false.”
CNN’s legal team argued that Young’s actions violated the Taliban’s Islamic law. But Judge Henry dismissed the idea that he had broken the law.
“Framing these situations is ‘Controversy’ between Taliban rulers and the rest of the free world It is like saying that it is debatable whether the Nazi extermination of Jews at Auschwitz was wrong,” Judge Henry wrote.
Defamation lawsuit against CNN could reveal company financial secrets Because the court is trying to reveal the net worth.
Zachary Young, a U.S. Navy veteran, believes CNN “has damaged his reputation and business by branding him an illegal profiteer who takes advantage of desperate Afghans” during the November 2019 Oct. 11 issue. 2021 on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper.” (CNN/Screenshot)
Judge Henry also called out CNN’s legal team for failing to conclude how Young operated on an unregulated “black market.”
“The fundamental problem with the defendants’ arguments is that they rely on their own proposed definition of the ‘black market,’ which has been a moving target throughout this litigation. and ignores the potential for “black market” to mean illegality or criminality,” Justice Henry wrote.
It wasn’t complete closure for CNN’s legal team. Judge Henry agreed that Young’s company, Nemex Enterprises, Inc., would not be awarded damages.
The CNN segment centered on the case begins with Tapper informing viewers that CNN reporter Alex Marquardt found that “Afghans trying to leave the country face a black market full of promises. Claiming exorbitant fees and there is no guarantee of safety or success.”
CNN’s legal team argued that Young “drove himself into this conflict by initially contacting” CNN reporter Katie Bo Lillis. However, Judge Henry wrote that “A short review About this communication is not shown. At least he expressed it honestly. that he is still trying to push himself into the spotlight of the media related to Afghanistan But his first communication was ‘business line.’ He reached out to see if Lillis needed someone to provide immigration services.”
“One could say Marquardt had his own story that he wanted to tell. (‘Bad people hunting Afghans’) Actually, Marquardt’s first pitch for the October 26-28, 2021 story included the explosive phrase: “Price gouging,” extortion of desperate Afghans, ”shadow black markets,” and concluded that he wanted “Verify to what extent this is extortion or fraud.” Then, luckily, the door was opened to get information for this piece when Lillis was still reaching out, Henry wrote.
“When Young stopped cooperating with investigative reporters, Marquardt met his ‘young man,’ Young. Even though Young didn’t check all the boxes, Marquardt did have the villain’s “face” on screen. Defendant There is no evidence that Young did anything illegal, but Black Market Chyron was singled out and highlighted only him in the group,” he added. “They had information that Young did not directly work with or receive money from individual Afghans. But he might be a bad guy preying on Afghans. And collectively, they’ve put together a story that, despite its flaws, paints Young in the worst light by deliberately using False information or at least in a careless manner.”
CNN has been accused of withholding important documents needed to assess its value ahead of a defamation trial.
CNN host Jake Tapper and reporter Alex Marquardt during a segment at the center of a defamation lawsuit. (CNN/Screenshot)
Judge Henry also found sufficient evidence of malice. And it was found that he had never received any money from the Afghans.
“There are several examples of statements made by defendant reporters during the compilation of the pieces. The jury may conclude that it was actual malice or malice,” he wrote.
The civil trial is scheduled to begin on January 1, No. 6, before Judge Henry in the Circuit Court for Bay County, Florida.
“The court granted plaintiffs’ second request for summary judgment. and found that the plaintiff had not received any money from the Afghans,” Justice Henry ruled.
The court previously ruled that Young “has not committed any criminal or illegal act.”
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