Ahead of his billion-dollar defamation trial, a federal court granted the Navy veteran who was suing CNN a significant legal victory.
According to Knewz.com, Judge William Henry sided with veteran Zachary Young on a number of important factors while rejecting the network’s petition for summary judgment.
Young is now permitted to “proceed with his claim for punitive damages” as a result of Henry’s decision.
During the Biden administration’s 2021 military withdrawal, Young has charged CNN of damaging his reputation by suggesting he made money on a “black market” while assisting refugees from Afghanistan.
After appearing on Jake Tapper’s The Lead in 2021, the veteran said the network “destroyed his reputation and business” with a segment that was also circulated on the network’s website and social media.
“Afghans trying to get out of the country face a black marketfull of promises, demands of exorbitant fees, and no guarantee of safety or success,” Tapper informed viewers during the episode, quoting CNN journalist Alex Marquardt.
Henry said the judge concluded the veteran “did not take money from Afghans” in his decision.
Despite asserting that it conducted ‘three weeks of newsgathering’ and’spoke with more than a dozen sources,’ defendant’s representatives admitted they had no proof that Young had committed any criminal or illegal acts, according to court documents written by Henry. However, the defendant used the Chyron from the Black Market. This is enough evidence to support summary judgment on the matter, allowing a reasonable jury to conclude with convincing clarity that the defendant behaved with genuine malice.
“Young stated that he was not entering into contracts with or accepting money from anybody, and the defendant had no proof of criminal activity. In spite of this, the defendant used his name and picture as the quintessential child predator of Afghans.
The judge went on to say: “Accordingly, the record evidence could support a conclusion that Defendant aired and posted the Pieces knowing the gist was false or with reckless disregard as to whether the gist was false or not.”
Henry criticized CNN’s legal staff after they tried to claim that Young had broken the Taliban’s Sharia code.
Henry said: “Framing these circumstances as a ‘debate’ between the Taliban rulers and the rest of the free world would be akin to saying it was debatable whether theNaziextermination of the Jews atAuschwitzwas wrong.”
He added that the network’s attorneys were unable to demonstrate how Young engaged in “black market” activities.
The judge said: “The fundamental problem with Defendant’s arguments is that they rely on its own proffered definition of ‘black market,’ which has been a moving target throughout this litigation, and ignore the potential that ‘black market’ connotes illegality or criminality.”
Young allegedly “thrust himself into this controversy by reaching out to” reporter Katie Bo Lillis, according to CNN’s legal team.
“(A) brief review of this communication does not demonstrate, at least on its face, that Young was seeking to thrust himself into the media spotlight concerning Afghanistan,” Henry countered, rebutting this premise. Instead, it was a “businesscall” when he first spoke. He inquired as to whether Lillis required assistance with evacuation.
Henry’s decision that Young’s company, Nemex Enterprises, Inc., would not be considered for damages was a victory for CNN despite the harsh sentence.
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