A federal appeals court has upheld a massive financial penalty against former President Donald Trump. The court affirmed an $83.3 million verdict for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. This decision solidifies a major legal defeat for the former president.
The ruling from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is final. It ends Trump’s attempt to overturn the jury’s January 2024 decision. This case stems from Trump’s denial of Carroll’s sexual assault allegation.
Court Rejects Immunity Defense in Landmark Ruling
The court dismissed Trump’s claim of presidential immunity. His legal team argued his 2019 comments were official acts. The judges found this defense did not apply to the defamation case.
According to Reuters, Trump also cited a recent Supreme Court ruling on criminal immunity. The appeals court determined that ruling did not shield him from civil liability. The court found his statements were personal, not presidential.
The $83.3 million award is broken into two parts. It includes $18.3 million for compensatory damages. Another $65 million was assigned as punitive damages.
Case History and Lasting Impact on Defamation Law
This verdict is the second loss for Trump in this matter. A separate jury awarded Carroll $5 million in a previous trial. That May 2023 verdict found Trump liable for defamation and sexual assault.
The case began when Carroll, a former Elle columnist, detailed an alleged assault. She said it occurred in a New York department store in the mid-1990s. Trump denied the encounter, claiming she was “not my type.”
Legal experts see this as a pivotal case. It demonstrates that claims of immunity have limits in civil litigation. The substantial penalty underscores the serious financial consequences of defamation.
This ruling concludes a significant chapter in the legal battles surrounding the former president, reinforcing the jury’s decision that his statements caused substantial harm.
Info at your fingertips
What is the $83 million Trump verdict for?
A jury ordered Donald Trump to pay E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million for defamation. This was for public statements he made in 2019 denying her sexual assault allegation and damaging her reputation.
Did the court find Trump guilty of rape?
The jury in the first trial found Trump liable for sexual abuse. They did not find conclusive evidence to support the specific claim of rape under New York law at the time.
What was Trump’s main defense argument?
Trump argued he had presidential immunity from the lawsuit. He claimed his denials were official acts performed as president. The appeals court rejected this argument.
Can Trump appeal this decision further?
He can ask the entire appeals court to rehear the case. He could also petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision. Both options are considered long shots by legal analysts.
Has E. Jean Carroll commented on the ruling?
Carroll released a new memoir titled “Not My Type” in June. It details her legal battles. Her legal team has praised the court for upholding the jury’s verdict.
How does this affect Donald Trump legally?
This is a separate civil matter. It does not impact his ongoing criminal cases. He is still required to pay the full judgment amount as upheld by the court.
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