A federal judge has denied former President Donald Trump’s request for a new trial in the civil suit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, who was awarded an $83.3 million judgment by a jury that found Trump liable for defamation in January. The judge also denied a request to strike the damages in the case, which Trump had called “entirely out of proportion” with Carroll’s reputational injury. Trump’s attorney plans to appeal the decision, stating that they disagree with Judge Kaplan’s decision and believe it ignores long-standing constitutional principles and is an example of the lawfare happening in the country.
Trump requested the new trial in a March filing where he listed grievances about the trial and pretrial decisions, including the exclusion of evidence related to his “state of mind” when he defamed Carroll. Carroll, a longtime advice columnist, accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Trump denied the allegations, calling Carroll a “whack job” and claimed he had never met her. Trump’s attorneys argued that the jury could not have reasonably concluded that Carroll suffered damages as a result of his comments because they were made five hours after the story was published. Carroll’s attorneys countered that she faced a sustained deluge of derision and threats after Trump’s comments.
In his decision, Judge Kaplan wrote that Trump’s argument was without merit both as a matter of law and fact. He stated that the jury and court had concluded that the statements Trump was sued over were false, defamatory, and made with both actual and common law malice. Kaplan pointed out that the defamatory statements were viewed millions of times, indicating the impact they had on Carroll’s reputation. Trump claimed that the jury’s findings were based on confusion, speculation, or prejudice, rather than evidence presented at trial. However, Kaplan refuted this argument by emphasizing the court’s conclusions regarding the defamatory nature of Trump’s statements.
Despite Trump’s claims, Judge Kaplan’s decision to deny the request for a new trial and to uphold the damages awarded to Carroll stands. Trump’s attorneys plan to appeal the decision, expressing confidence that it will be overturned by the Second Circuit. The case highlights the ongoing legal battle between Trump and his accusers, as well as the complexities of defamation lawsuits involving high-profile individuals. Ultimately, the outcome of the appeal will determine the final resolution of the case and whether Trump will be held accountable for his statements towards Carroll.
