A Florida jury began deliberations this afternoon in a security consultantsdefamationlawsuit againstCNN.
The segment from Alexander Marquardt was aired on CNN on November 11, 2021, and re-aired three times.
Did CNN commit defamation by implication?
The final question facing jurors is whether punitive damages are warranted.
If the jury favors punitive damages, the trial will move to another phase to determine the amount.
The deliberations started shortly before 4 p.m. After it aired 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.
Jurors also were shown text messages during the trial give 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.
