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A civil jury found The New York Times responsible for defamation after a story incorrectly linked Kai Spears to a 2023 shooting near the University of Alabama. The verdict, which includes a $9.25 million damages award, follows a correction by the newspaper and testimony from sports writer Billy Witz.
The verdict stems from a 2023 New York Times story that incorrectly placed former Alabama basketball player Kai Spears at the center of a deadly incident, prompting a defamation lawsuit and a substantial damages award.
A civil jury in Alabama has ordered The New York Times to pay $9.25 million to former Alabama basketball player Kai Spears for a 2023 article that incorrectly placed him at the scene of a fatal shooting.
The New York Times published an erroneous March 2023 article linking former Alabama basketball player Kai Spears to a fatal shooting, sparking a defamation trial that revealed procedural failures and emotional harm to the player's family.
Former Alabama basketball player Kai Spears has sued The New York Times for defamation and false‑light claims after a report incorrectly placed him at the scene of a deadly shooting. The case, scheduled for trial on August 10, raises questions about editorial oversight and the use of anonymous sources in sports coverage.
Kai Spears, a former Alabama basketball player, alleges that a New York Times report falsely placed him at the scene of a fatal shooting, sparking a legal battle that could reshape how sports stories are sourced and edited.