New York, New York — A federal appeals court has confirmed an $83.3 million jury award in favor of writer E. Jean Carroll in her defamation case against former President Donald Trump. The ruling dismissed Trump’s claims that the damages were excessive and that he was protected by presidential immunity regarding statements made about Carroll on social media and in public.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit determined that Trump made several public statements about Carroll that exposed her to threats and harassment. The court highlighted that Trump portrayed Carroll as driven by personal gain, questioned her integrity, and insinuated that she would face dire consequences for her allegations.
The ruling emphasized the far-reaching impact of Trump’s comments, noting that Carroll received a barrage of harassment, including numerous death threats. Out of the total $83.3 million award, $65 million was designated as punitive damages. According to the court, Trump continued to make disparaging comments about Carroll even during the trial, which influenced the jury’s decision regarding the award.
The defamation case stemmed from a 1996 encounter between Carroll and Trump at a New York department store, described in her memoir and recounted during a recent trial. Carroll claimed that an initially casual meeting escalated into a violent assault in a dressing room, alleging that Trump forced himself on her. Trump has denied these allegations, asserting that Carroll fabricated her story for promotional purposes.
A jury previously found Trump liable for sexual abuse but determined the evidence did not satisfy the legal definition of rape under New York law. Carroll was awarded $5 million in that verdict, which covered both the alleged assault and Trump’s public denials after he left office. The subsequent trial focused solely on the damages associated with statements Trump made while president in 2019, culminating in the larger defamation award.
Trump’s legal representatives have suggested the possibility of appealing to the Supreme Court regarding the earlier $5 million verdict. Carroll has yet to receive any of the awarded damages, and her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, expressed hope that the appellate process would soon conclude, enabling Carroll to obtain justice.
In response to the ruling, Trump’s lawyers criticized the legal proceedings, characterizing them as politically motivated efforts intended to undermine him. They called for an immediate cessation of what they referred to as “witch hunts,” including the legal challenges stemming from Carroll’s allegations.
The appeals court reiterated that the rulings from the lower court were justified and that the jury’s damage awards were reasonable given the severity of the case. The ruling was issued by Judges Denny Chin, Sarah A.L. Merriam, and Maria Araújo Kahn, reflecting a diverse judicial panel appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents.
The article was automatically written by Open AI, and the people, facts, circumstances, and story may be inaccurate. Any article can be requested removed, retracted, or corrected by writing an email to contact@publiclawlibrary.org.