Richmond, Va. — A federal appeals court on Monday overturned a previous decision that had substantially reduced the damages awarded to plaintiffs who suffered during the violent Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in 2017. The court’s decision reinstates over $2 million in damages, initially granted by a jury to victims who endured physical and emotional distress caused by prominent white supremacists and hate groups.
In 2021, a jury awarded $24 million in total damages to eight plaintiffs for the hardships endured during the rally. However, this amount was later cut down by a judge to $350,000, citing a state law from decades past that limits punitive damages. The recent unanimous ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit granted each of the eight plaintiffs the $350,000 initially meant to be divided among them, cumulatively raising their award to $2.8 million.
The legal battle has its roots in the distressing events that unfolded when white supremacist groups, including neo-Nazis and alt-right factions, converged on the small college town, resulting in chaos and violence. The rally escalated tragically when a neo-Nazi sympathizer drove a car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one and injuring several others.
This litigation spotlighted not only the individuals involved but also the broader implications of their actions, which a federal jury found to be part of a premeditated plot to instigate violence. The defendants, including high-profile figures like Richard Spencer and organizer Jason Kessler, doubled down on their extremist beliefs during the trial, further polarizing public opinion.
The courtroom trials, which took place mere blocks from where the 2017 violence occurred, became a platform for the plaintiffs to recount the enduring impacts of that weekend. Testimonies revealed long-lasting psychological and physical scars, including PTSD, broken families, and severe injuries.
Plaintiffs’ attorneys, hailing this ruling as a win, emphasized its significance in the fight against hate-based violence and extremism. “Today’s decision restores a significant portion of the punitive damages from the jury’s verdict, delivering a powerful message against racist and antisemitic violence,” shared the plaintiffs’ legal team in a statement.
Legal experts believe this ruling could set a precedent, encouraging more victims of hate crimes and civil rights violations to seek justice through the legal system. Carl Tobias, a law professor, highlighted that decisions like this serve as a critical deterrent against harmful behaviors that violate civil rights.
The court’s decision not only revises the financial burden placed on the defendants to account for their actions but also upholds a jury’s capacity to enact substantial punitive measures on those who orchestrate racially motivated violence. This ruling thus stands as a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle against hate groups in America, reinforcing the judiciary’s role in shaping societal norms against intolerance.