A federal jury ordered The New York Times to pay $9.25 million to former Alabama basketball player Kai Spears for a false report that linked him to a 2023 murder. The decision marks the newspaper’s first loss in a U.S. defamation lawsuit in five decades.
Verdict Details
The jury found that the March 2023 article falsely claimed Spears was the passenger in Brandon Miller’s vehicle at the scene of a January shooting that killed 23‑year‑old Jamea Harris. Spears was not in the vehicle, and the report caused him emotional distress and a lasting association with the crime.
Times spokesman Charlie Stadtander said the company was disappointed the jury found it liable for an honest mistake. He added that the verdict contradicts the law and the evidence and that the newspaper is reviewing legal options.
The Times later added an editor’s note acknowledging that the story erroneously identified Spears as the passenger based on a source familiar with the case. The newspaper noted that Alabama’s athletic director and Spears’ father denied his presence after publication.
Spears sued the Times in 2023, alleging libel and false‑light invasion of privacy. He argued the article caused emotional distress and permanently linked his name to the murder.
The eight‑person federal jury deliberated for nine days before awarding Spears $9.25 million. The amount fell short of the $15 million his lawyers had requested.
Because the court classified Spears as a private figure, he needed only to prove the claim was false and negligently published, not actual malice. The Times contended the report was not defamatory since it never said Spears participated in the shooting.
Times sportswriter Billy Witz apologized from the witness stand after admitting he relied on a confidential source who described the passenger as ‘a white guy on the basketball team.’ He said he trusted the source despite its vague description.
Attorneys for The Times argued the story was an honest error, not defamation, and highlighted Witz’s verification efforts. Michael Bell, a Times lawyer, called the mistake an ‘honest mistake.’
A photo shows Kai Spears dribbling during a practice at State Farm Stadium on April 5, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. The image is credited to Christian Petersen/Getty Images.
