Kai Spears wins defamation case against New York Times
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 21, 2026, 1:59 AM
Last updated Aug 21, 2026
Kai Spears, a former Alabama basketball player, won a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times in a ruling issued on August 20, 2026. The jury in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama awarded Spears $9.25 million after finding the newspaper liable for linking him to a murder scene incorrectly. The case stemmed from a March 2023 article that falsely identified Spears as a passenger in a car involved in a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa. The Times later corrected the error but described the situation as an honest mistake. This verdict marks a significant moment as it is the first defamation case lost by the Times in the U.S. in over 50 years.
- •Spears was awarded $9.25 million in damages by an Alabama jury.
- •The lawsuit followed a March 2023 article linking Spears to a murder scene.
- •The Times later issued a correction and acknowledged the error.
- •This case is the first defamation loss for the Times in over 50 years.
- •Spears’ family expressed their gratitude for the verdict.
- 1:59 AMYahoo Sports — New York Times loses first defamation trial in more than 50 years to ex-Alabama player Kai Spears
- 1:12 AMYahoo Sports — Former Alabama basketball player Kai Spears wins defamation case against New York Times
"In March 2023, Billy Witz falsely reported that Kai Spears, then an Alabama Crimson Tide basketball player, had been in the passenger seat of Brandon Miller’s car at the time of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa that January. Spears later sued The New York Times for defamation. Spears’ lawsuit made it to civil trial in the…
"Former Alabama men's basketball walk-on Kai Spears won a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, which incorrectly linked him to a murder scene
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsAug 21, 2026, 1:59 AMNew York Times loses first defamation trial in more than 50 years to ex-Alabama player Kai Spears
In March 2023, Billy Witz falsely reported that Kai Spears, then an Alabama Crimson Tide basketball player, had been in the passenger seat of Brandon Miller’s car at the time of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa that January. Spears later sued The New York Times for defamation. Spears’ lawsuit made it to civil trial in the…
- Yahoo SportsAug 21, 2026, 1:12 AMFormer Alabama basketball player Kai Spears wins defamation case against New York Times
Former Alabama men's basketball walk-on Kai Spears won a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, which incorrectly linked him to a murder scene
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