Ex-Player Wins $9.25M in Defamation Lawsuit

A jury has ordered a prominent newspaper to pay $9.25 million to former Alabama basketball player Kai Spears. The verdict followed a nine-day trial where the jury found the newspaper liable for defamation. Spears, who was an 18-year-old freshman walk-on, was incorrectly named in a March 2023 report. The report linked him to a fatal shooting that occurred in January 2023.

The defamation case centered on a specific March 15, 2023, report that connected Spears to the shooting. He was erroneously identified as being in a car with another player at the scene, though he was not present. The newspaper later issued an editor's note acknowledging the mistake and identifying the correct individual.

During the trial, the reporter testified that the initial report relied on an anonymous source believed to be reliable. Despite initial defenses of the report, the newspaper conducted a review after Spears filed his lawsuit. In June 2023, an editor's note confirmed the error, stating the wrong person was named. The newspaper is reportedly considering its next legal steps.