According to the Washington Free Beacon, the judge in the case involving Navy veteran Zachary Young found the system innocent of defamation after airing coverage that showed him as an “illegal huckster” who operated in a “black market” when he helped leave Afghans during the turbulent U.S. withdrawal. After the jury found that Young is owed$ 4 million in economic damages and$ 1 million in emotional damages after he testified that he was no longer able to make any money since the segment aired, CNN is being ordered to pay at least$ 5 million in damages.
CNN reportedly found jury deliberations embarrassing because of internal communications that showed CNN employees referring to Young with expletives and claiming that he has a “punchable mouth.” Another set of emails revealed that CNN gave the Navy veteran only two hours to respond to” a thorough list of questions” in another message.
Young told CNN staff that the deadline was” no realistic”, adding that some of the “facts/assertions are certainly appropriate, and if they are published, I may get legal injuries”.
According to the Free Beacon, “CNN reporters and investigators also had serious problems with the post accompanying Marquardt’s section. One suggested killing the tale entirely, saying it was’ full of holes like European butter.’ National surveillance writer Nicole Gaouette, a different report, claimed that the costs associated with those attempts were” seriously expensive” and that Young may have been charging to evacuate Afghans may have been acceptable.
Judge William Henry reprimanded community attorney David Axelrod for demeaning Young and his team by claiming to have a document that showed Younger lied about hardly working since the CNN section aired, which was later found to be not to be a labor contract.
According to the Free Beacon, Henry issued an order that “whoever makes a personal insult to the other side is going to pay a$ 100 fine each time it happens” in an ostensible attempt to target Axelrod. Additionally, Henry added that Axelrod really regret to Young for labeling him a “liar.”
Axelrod apparently did apologize gradually, as did CNN, but some CNN staffers refused to apologize for the sector.
