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crime9h ago
Trial date set for Alabama basketball player's defamation suit against New York Times
On3.com and 1 more
- A defamation suit against The New York Times by former Alabama player Kai Spears is headed to trial, with a August 10 date set in Tuscaloosa regardless of ongoing settlement talks.
- The NYT article allegedly misidentified Spears as a passenger in the car linked to the fatal shooting, a key point in Spears defense against defamation.
- The Times later corrected its reporting in June 2023 after Spears filed his defamation suit, acknowledging changes to the story.
- Spears9 attorney calls the ruling a step toward presenting the facts to a west Alabama jury, signaling confidence in a public, fact-focused trial.
- The Times argued its reporting was true in the broad sense, maintaining the gist of the story even if some details were inaccurate.
- Spears has maintained he did not participate in the shooting or know about the weapon allegedly used by Miles, distancing himself from the incident.
- Spears9s defamation suit seeks more than $75,000 in damages, highlighting the financial stakes of the case.
- Spears transferred to Marshall after the 2023-24 season, a move that shapes the context of the case and public perception.
- The defendant in the case, Miller, was not criminally charged and faced a civil wrongful death suit settled in 2025, framing the broader legal backdrop.
- The reference article outlines that the core issue is whether the Timess statements about Spears being in the vehicle would be considered highly offensive to a reasonable person, shaping the jury question.
- The trial could offer a rare look into newsroom editing practices, including the use of anonymous sources, as part of evaluating the defamation claim.
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