In a Florida courtroom last month, a plaintiff’s attorney asked jurors to “send a message” by holding CNN accountable for defaming security contractor Zachary Young.
The jury responded, awarding $5 million to compensate Young — who was described as being part of a “black market” for refugees fleeing Afghanistan — for damage to his reputation. The jurors would have gone even further, but a settlement was reached before they could grant award punitive damages.
In an email over the weekend, Katy Svitenko, the foreperson, told Variety that she would have awarded up to $100 million, and confirmed the jury was indeed trying to send a message.
“The message the jury wanted to send was to not only CNN but to all media that the general public is fed up with fake news and partial truths,” she said in response to written questions. “Reporting must be…
