Florida Jury Finds CNN Liable for Defamation Against US Navy Veteran

A Florida jury found CNN liable for defamation against a U.S. Navy veteran who claimed a segment from the network damaged his reputation and business. 

Settlement: Zachary Young was awarded $5 million in compensatory damages. CNN reached a settlement with Young to avoid further punitive damages. The settlement amount wasn’t disclosed.

The Details: The lawsuit stemmed from a November 2021 segment on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper.” Young sued CNN for defamation, accusing the network of falsely portraying him in the segment as an "illegal profiteer" involved in a "black market" for evacuating Afghans. The plaintiff said CNN’s report implied Young was exploiting vulnerable Afghans by charging exorbitant fees, which he claimed harmed his business. Young said his business helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan, but that he worked with big sponsors like Bloomberg and Audible.

CNN Stands By Report: During the trial, CNN editors defended the network’s use of the term "black market," arguing it referred to unregulated circumstances rather than illegal activities. CNN's lawyers also framed its reporting of Young as fair and true. 

• “We remain proud of our journalists and are 100% committed to strong, fearless and fair-minded reporting at CNN, though we will of course take what useful lessons we can from this case,” a CNN spokesperson said in a statement.

How The Media Covered It: CNN’s report on the defamation verdict was shorter than reports from many other media outlets. The New York Post (Lean Right) portrayed CNN more negatively, pointing out the recent financial struggles of the “ratings-challenged network.”