New York — A federal appeals court upheld a jury’s decision on Monday, mandating that former President Donald Trump pay $83.3 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her after she publicly accused him of sexual assault.
The ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s appeal, which claimed the financial penalty was excessively high and argued for a new trial based on recent Supreme Court interpretations regarding presidential immunity.
The court deemed Trump’s actions as “extraordinary and unprecedented,” concluding that they warranted such a substantial award. The ruling indicated that the punitive damages did not exceed reasonable limits given the unique circumstances surrounding the case.
E. Jean Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, expressed satisfaction with the decision, acknowledging the court’s affirmation of Carroll’s credibility. Kaplan highlighted the challenges her client faced throughout the legal battle, including threats, and expressed hope for finality in the appellate process.
This case relates to Trump’s repeated public denigrations of Carroll following her allegations featured in her 2019 memoir, which detailed an alleged sexual assault at a Manhattan department store in 1996. The first trial in 2023 held Trump liable for sexual assault, although it determined that the incident did not fulfill New York’s legal definition of rape, resulting in a $5 million award for both the assault and Trump’s denials.
In a subsequent trial focused on further defamation claims, Carroll was awarded $83.3 million. Notably, during this round, Trump was not allowed to present his case regarding innocence concerning the sexual assault allegation, as that matter had been conclusively addressed in the previous trial outcome.
The appeals court upheld the trial judge’s decision to restrict the parameters of the second trial. The judges found the jury’s damage figures to be proportionate given the “extraordinary and egregious facts” involved in the case.
This ruling means that the legal battles involving Carroll and Trump are likely nearing an end, although the former president has not ruled out further appeals.
The judgment highlights the ongoing legal complexities surrounding high-profile figures and the importance of accountability in allegations of misconduct.
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