An Alabama jury awarded $9.25 million in damages to University of Alabama basketball player Kai Spears after finding The New York Times defamed him by incorrectly reporting he was at the scene of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa. The verdict was delivered Thursday following a nine-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, according to fortune.com.
Spears sued The New York Times in 2023 after it published a report citing an anonymous source that placed him as a passenger in a car involved in the January 2023 shooting that killed a 23-year-old mother. The Times later issued a correction acknowledging the error. The eight-person jury found the report defamatory, and Spears’ attorney Matt Glover said the verdict will improve journalism nationwide. The Times spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander expressed disappointment and said the company was reviewing legal options.
The case highlights the legal risks media outlets face when relying on anonymous sources for sensitive stories. The $9.25 million award is significant for a defamation suit involving a major news organization and underscores the consequences of inaccurate reporting. Similar lawsuits have raised questions about journalistic standards and the balance between public interest and individual reputations. The incident also drew attention because three other Alabama basketball players were present at the shooting, but only Spears was wrongly named.
The jury’s verdict came after a nine-day trial in August 2026 in the Northern District of Alabama. Spears’ legal team and The New York Times are now positioned for potential further legal proceedings, with the Times disputing the verdict and damages awarded, per fortune.com.