An Alabama jury on Thursday awarded $9.25 million in damages after finding that The New York Times defamed an Alabama basketball player by incorrectly reporting that he was at the scene of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa.
The ruling stems from coverage that the jury determined falsely connected the player to the location of the fatal incident. The damages award marks a significant legal outcome tied to reporting involving a college basketball athlete and a high-profile criminal case in Alabama.
The case drew attention because of its connection to the Alabama basketball program, one of the most prominent teams in college basketball. The jury’s decision focused on whether the published report inaccurately identified the player’s presence at the scene.
Legal Decision Centers on Accuracy of Report
The jury found that the report was defamatory and awarded damages totaling $9.25 million. No additional details about the breakdown of damages were included in the ruling described Thursday.
The decision underscores the stakes involved when reporting on athletes in connection with serious off-court incidents, particularly when published information is later found to be incorrect.