Earlier, the Florida jury today found CNN liable for defaming Young.
The deliberations started shortly before 4 p.m. During the trial, Marquardt defended the piece, as did other CNN staffers who worked on the segment.
They said that they never accused Young of any crime, and used his own words in the piece.
A Florida jury found CNN liable for defaming a Navy veteran over the Afghanistan pullout.Getty Images
After the piece ran and Young began a legal challenge, CNN aired an apology.
We didnt mean to suggest that Mr. Young participated in the black market.
We regret the error and to Mr. Young, we apologize.
Each of them paraded a uniform lie that they thought to term black market meant an unregulated market.
Each of them conveniently told you that they understood the word to mean the opposite of every single dictionary.
Freedman told jurors that the story ruined Youngs career and reputation.
He cant function anymore, and they did it.
You saw him break down on the stand.
Its the wild, wild west.
Some people were taken out and killed.
People were using safe houses.
People were flying under the radar.
People were avoiding the Taliban.
You couldnt just go to the airport.
Black market was a perfect way to describe that.
Thats what it was used for, and thats the way it was understood.
Axelrod also noted that there was a dearth of evidence to support Youngs claims or lost work and reputation.
Jurors also were shown text messages during the trial giving them a glimpse of the newsgathering process.
The trial, Axelrod told the jurors, was about the truth of this case.
Its not about sending a message.
