In a significant blow to President Trump’s legal efforts, a federal judge in New York has denied his request for a new trial and upheld a $5 million jury verdict in a civil case brought against him by writer E. Jean Carroll. The case revolves around allegations of sexual assault and defamation made by Carroll against Trump. This ruling marks a setback for Trump’s defense team, who had appealed the jury’s decision and sought a reduction in damages. In this article, we will delve into the details of the case, the judge’s ruling, and the implications for both parties involved.
E. Jean Carroll filed a civil lawsuit against Donald Trump in 2022, accusing him of sexual assault and defamation. She claimed that Trump had raped her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in 1996 and later defamed her in 2022 by calling the incident a hoax. The case garnered significant media attention and became a focal point in the larger conversation about sexual misconduct allegations against Trump.
In May 2023, a nine-member jury delivered a verdict in favor of Carroll, although they did not find sufficient evidence to support the claim of rape. Instead, the jury determined that Trump had sexually abused Carroll. The jury awarded $2 million in damages for sexual abuse and an additional $3 million for defamation, totaling $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
Following the jury’s decision, Trump’s legal team appealed the verdict, arguing that the damages awarded were excessive. They contended that since the jury did not find Trump guilty of rape, the $2 million awarded for sexual abuse was unwarranted. The defense also requested a new trial or a reduction in damages to less than $1 million.
Judge Lewis Kaplan, in a 59-page ruling entered on July 19, denied Trump’s motion for a new trial or a reduction in damages. He carefully considered all of the arguments presented by Trump’s legal team and found them unpersuasive. Judge Kaplan emphasized that the jury’s verdict was not a miscarriage of justice and did not reach a seriously erroneous result.
Despite the unfavorable ruling, Trump’s legal team filed a notice of appeal against the $5 million in damages and all adverse rulings by Judge Kaplan. This means that the case will now proceed to the appellate court, where Trump’s attorneys will challenge the ruling in hopes of overturning the jury’s verdict or reducing the damages awarded to Carroll.
E. Jean Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, expressed Carroll’s satisfaction with the ruling and her determination to collect the $5 million in damages. Carroll also looks forward to pursuing a separate lawsuit against Trump, which is scheduled to begin on January 15, 2024. This second lawsuit relates to allegedly defamatory comments made by Trump in 2019 when Carroll first publicly accused him. In that case, Carroll is seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and unspecified punitive damages.
Judge Kaplan’s rejection of Trump’s request for a new trial and the upholding of the $5 million jury verdict in the E. Jean Carroll case mark a significant development in the ongoing legal battles surrounding allegations and defamation against Trump. While Trump’s legal team has filed an appeal, the ruling reaffirms the jury’s decision and strengthens Carroll’s position.
Leave a Comment