Former Alabama Basketball Player Kai Spears Seeks $15 Million in Defamation Trial Against New York Times Co.

Former Alabama Basketball Player Kai Spears Seeks $15 Million in Defamation Trial Against New York Times Co.

Former Alabama basketball player Kai Spears is seeking $15 million in damages in a defamation trial against the New York Times Co. The newspaper published a story that falsely implicated Spears in a fatal shooting near the Tuscaloosa Strip. It was later revealed that it was actually Crimson Tide basketball manager Cooper Lee in the vehicle with Brandon Miller, not Spears. The trial has reached its closing arguments, with Spears' legal team arguing that the New York Times did not follow its own policies and standards in reporting the story. They are requesting $15 million in total damages, including compensatory and punitive damages to hold the newspaper accountable. The New York Times' attorney argued that the reporter made an honest mistake and emphasized that Spears did not suffer real damages as a result of the story. The jury is now deliberating on the case.