CNN Reaches Undisclosed Defamation Settlement for Punitive Damages with Navy Veteran After Jury Awarded Him Additional $5 Million
CNN has reached a confidential settlement for punitive damages with Zachary Young, a military veteran who’d sued the news network over its report that he ran a black market operation that preyed on desperate Afghans trying to flee the country in 2021. Earlier on Friday, the jury awarded Mr. Young $4 million for lost earnings and $1 million for personal damages after finding CNN liable for defamation.
The undisclosed punitive damages CNN has agreed to pay may be far larger. The settlement followed testimony to determine how much of a judgement CNN would need to be charged for it to hurt, with witnesses saying the amount should be in the billions of dollars. In 2017, Disney settled with a South Dakota meat processor for $177 million after ABC News defamed as “pink slime” a beef product it sold to schools. The amount was not disclosed until Disney reported it in its earnings months later.
The undisclosed punitive damages CNN has agreed to pay may be far larger. The settlement followed testimony to determine how much of a judgement CNN would need to be charged for it to hurt, with witnesses saying the amount should be in the billions of dollars. In 2017, Disney settled with a South Dakota meat processor for $177 million after ABC News defamed as “pink slime” a beef product it sold to schools. The amount was not disclosed until Disney reported it in its earnings months later.
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