CNN found guilty of libeling Navy veteran in Afghan rescue story
A Florida jury found CNN guilty of defamation against a U.S. Navy veteran, Zachary Young, ruling in favor of his claim that a 2021 report inaccurately depicted his rescue efforts in Afghanistan as a 'black market' operation. The jury awarded Young $5 million in damages.
A Florida jury ruled Friday that CNN is guilty of defaming a U.S. Navy veteran in a 2021 story about individuals involved in rescuing endangered Afghans after the Taliban's takeover.
The jury in Panama City deliberated for over eight hours before delivering a verdict in favor of Zachary Young, who accused CNN of damaging his business by featuring his image in a report that described a "black market" operation charging exorbitant fees to smuggle Afghans out of the country.
Verdict and Damages
The jury awarded Young $5 million in damages and is now deliberating whether CNN should also pay punitive damages.
This decision marks a rare loss for a media organization in a libel case. U.S. defamation laws generally favor news outlets, requiring plaintiffs to meet stringent standards to prove harm.
The Case Against CNN
Young contended that his business sought financial sponsors to assist Afghans, rather than charging individuals fees as high as $10,000 for rescue services. While CNN acknowledged that the term "black market" was inaccurate, the network maintained that its reporting on Young was otherwise factual.
“I know Zach feels heard in a way that he hasn’t felt for over three years,” said Young’s attorney, Devin Freedman, following the verdict.
The case highlights the challenges and responsibilities faced by media organizations when covering sensitive and high-stakes issues.
