New York Times defamed ex-college player, must pay him millions, jury says

Tuscaloosa, Ala. — An Alabama jury on Thursday awarded $9.25 million in damages after finding that The New York Times defamed a former college basketball player by incorrectly reporting that he was at the scene of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa.Kai Spears, who played for the University of Alabama men's team, sued the Times in 2023 after it published a report, citing a person familiar with the investigation, that indicated he was a passenger in a car involved in the shooting. The Times reported that the person had spoken "on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters." Days later, the Times acknowledged its error in an editor's note and corrected the story.The eight-person jury delivered its verdict after a nine-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

Missing media or need the complete publisher report? Open CBS News

Scoop News DeskNew York · Published Friday, August 21, 2026 at 11:39 AM UTCUpdated Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 5:52 PM UTC

Scoop News reporting summary

The text below was supplied by the Scoop Newsroom app. Third-party reporting is attributed in the source panel.

Matt Glover, an attorney for Spears, said he was pleased with the decision and believes "this verdict will improve journalism throughout the country." The Times was reviewing its legal options after losing in court, spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander said. "We're disappointed the jury found The Times liable for an honest mistake," Stadtlander said in a statement Thursday. "We thank the jury for its service, but believe the verdict and award of damages are contrary to law and not supported by the evidence." Three other basketball players from the school were present at the January 2023 shooting, which killed a 23-year-old mother.

Breaking news moves fast. Follow @Will466513 on X for breaking news alerts. Follow on X →

Story timeline