A jury recently granted former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll an additional $83.3 million in damages in her defamation lawsuit against former President Donald Trump. Carroll had accused Trump of sexual assault in 1996, and Trump’s subsequent denial, labeling her a liar, prompted her legal action.
This recent verdict marks the second time in less than a year that a jury has addressed Carroll’s allegations. In a previous trial in May, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse and was ordered to pay $5 million. The focus of this defamation trial was on Trump’s statements regarding Carroll made during his presidency. Despite the legal outcomes, Trump maintains his innocence, insisting that he was falsely accused.
The breakdown of the $83.3 million award includes $11 million for the damage to Carroll’s reputation, $7.3 million for emotional harm and other damages, and a substantial $65 million in punitive damages.
The courtroom proceedings leading to the verdict were notable for Trump’s dramatic exit during closing arguments, followed by his return as his lawyer defended him against statements made in June 2019 while he was president. Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, urged the jury to grant $24 million in compensatory damages and a significant sum in punitive damages.
