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PANAMA CITY, Fla. – US Navy veteran Zachary Young is celebrating the “vindication” he received after a jury found CNN defamed him, capping an intense two-week court battle.
“I’m glad it’s over,” Young said Fox News Digital in an interview. “It feels very, very, very good.”
After deliberating for more than eight hours, the six-judge jury decided that Young should be awarded $4 million in lost earnings and $1 million in personal damages, such as pain and suffering, and declared that punitive damages were warranted against CNN. But as the second phase of the trial got underway, lawyers for Young and CNN said 14th Judicial District Judge William S. Henry They had reached an agreement.
“It’s been a long three years and to have the result we wanted, a public vindication, is an incredible feeling. And I’m glad it’s over and we don’t have to spend any more years and time arguing about the meaning of a word,” Young said.
Jury finds CNN committed defamation against Marine veteran, reaches agreement on punitive damages
U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young spoke to Fox News Digital following his defamation lawsuit against CNN. (Joseph A. Wulfsohn/Fox News Digital)
The settlement amount was not disclosed, but came after an expert suggested that $150 million was an appropriate amount to punish CNN.
After the year-long legal battle with CNN, Young told Fox News Digital that he had no “hostility” toward the network.
“I think it was a good result for both of us,” Young said. “Now I can get on with my life, and for a long time I couldn’t even imagine what that would look or feel like. I’m still wondering what that will feel like.” When the dust settles, I have no animosity toward CNN at all.
“I hope they learn something from this experience,” he continued. “I hope that they take this as an opportunity to look in the mirror and realize that there is room for change and improvement, and if that is the result that CNN is showing, maybe other media outlets can see that too.” something positive.”
CNN INFRINGEMENT TRIAL: FINAL ARGUMENTS AS JURY BEGINS TO CONSIDER LAWSUIT AGAINST NETWORK
CNN has settled its defamation case against Young after a jury found that the network defamed him. (John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Vel Freedman, Young’s lead attorney in the defamation lawsuit against CNN, also touted the legal victory.
“We were able to clear Zak’s name, obtain a verdict and then come to an agreement so that he can avoid a lengthy appeal process and move on with his life,” Freedman told Fox News Digital. “So as a lawyer, that’s exactly what you want to do.”
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a CNN spokesperson said: “We remain proud of our journalists and are 100% committed to strong, fearless and fair reporting at CNN, although of course we will learn any useful lessons we learn.” can draw from this case.”
Young accused CNN of defaming him after it aired a graphic on the first part of “The Lead with Jake Tapper” that linked him to “black markets.” (CNN/Screenshot)
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Young accused CNN of vilifying him by suggesting he illegally profited from helping people escape Afghanistan on the “black market.” Biden administration Military withdrawal from the country in 2021. Young believed that CNN had “destroyed his reputation and business” by branding him an illegal profiteer who exploited “desperate Afghans” in November 2021.
Young’s legal team received damning internal intelligence from CNN, making repeated discoveries that showed employees were openly hostile toward the Navy veteran. Suggestions presented to the jury include one who calls him a “s—bag,” an “a–hole” and one who says he has a “punchable face.”
That was also revealed Alex Marquardtthe CNN correspondent leading the on-air report told a colleague, “We’re going to take down that Zachary Young woman,” a message that was often quoted throughout the trial.
Fox News’ Brian Flood and Annie McCuen contributed to this report.
