Panama City, Florida – U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young is celebrating his “vindication” after a jury found CNN defamed him, ending a bitter two-week court battle.
“I’m glad it’s over,” Yang said in a Fox News digital interview. “It feels very, very, very good.”
After more than eight hours of deliberations, the six-person jury ruled that Yang should be awarded $4 million in lost earnings and $1 million in personal damages for pain and suffering, and said punitive damages against CNN were warranted. But as the second phase of the trial got underway, attorneys for Yang and CNN told 14th Circuit Court Judge William S. Henry that they had reached a settlement.
“It’s been a long three years and to be able to get the outcome we wanted, which was a public defence, is an incredible feeling. I’m glad it’s over and we don’t have to spend any more time and money Go argue.
Jury finds CNN defamed Navy veteran, settles for punitive damages
U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young was interviewed by Fox News Digital after winning his defamation case against CNN. (Joseph A. Wolfson/Fox News Digital)
The settlement amount was not disclosed but was reached after expert witnesses said $150 million was a reasonable amount to punish CNN.
After a years-long legal battle with CNN, Yang told Fox News Digital that he had “no animosity” toward the network.
“I think it’s a good outcome for both of us,” Young said. “I can move on with my life now, and for the longest time I couldn’t even imagine what that would look like or feel like. I still wonder what it would feel like. When the dust settles, I have no regrets about CNN.” hostility.
“I hope they learn something from this experience,” he continued. “I hope they take this as an opportunity to reflect and realize that there is room for change and improvement, and if this is the result of CNN, maybe other outlets can see this as well.” As a positive thing.
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CNN settled its defamation case against Yang after a jury found the network defamed her. (John Graeme/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Vel Freedman, Yang’s lead attorney in the defamation lawsuit against CNN, also touted the legal victory.
“We were able to clear Zach’s name, get a verdict and then get a settlement so he could avoid a lengthy appeal and move on with his life,” Friedman told Fox News Digital. “So, as an attorney , which is exactly what you want to do.”
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a CNN spokesperson said: “We remain proud of our journalists and are 100% committed to strong, fearless and fair reporting at CNN, although we will certainly learn useful lessons from this experience. .
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Yang accused CNN of defaming him after airing an image linking him to the “black market” during a segment that first aired on “Jack Tapper’s Leadership.” (CNN/Screenshot)
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Yang accused CNN of defaming him by suggesting he profited illegally from helping people flee Afghanistan on the “black market.” Biden administration’s Withdraw troops from the country in 2021.
Yang’s legal team obtained shocking internal information from CNN through repeated revelations of staffers expressing blatant hostility toward the Navy veteran. Among those put before the jury, some called him a “bastard” and another said he had a “punchable face.”
CNN reporter Alex Marquardt, who anchored the report, was revealed to have told a colleague, “We’re going to nail this Mr. Zachary Young — uh,” in a sentence was cited frequently throughout the trial.
Fox News’ Brian Flood and Anne McQueen contributed to this report.
