Kai Spears wins $9.25m from New York Times defamation case

An Alabama jury has ordered The New York Times to pay $9.25 million in damages to former college basketball player Kai Spears.

The eight-person federal jury reached its verdict on Thursday following a nine-day trial. The legal battle stemmed from a March 2023 report published by the newspaper, which claimed Spears was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a fatal shooting. The reporting relied on a person speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. In reality, the passenger was an Alabama basketball team manager rather than Spears. Spears was a walk-on for the University of Alabama men’s team during the 2022–23 season when the incident occurred, but he was not involved in the shooting and faced no criminal charges.

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The tragic background of the litigation involves the killing of 23-year-old Jamea Harris, a mother from Birmingham. Harris was riding in a Jeep on Tuscaloosa's Strip in the early morning hours of Jan. 15, 2023, when her group encountered former Alabama basketball players. Prosecutors stated that Michael Lynn Davis opened fire on the vehicle after an earlier confrontation, while the defense argued that Harris' boyfriend, Cedric Johnson, fired first and that Davis acted in self-defense. Davis was convicted of capital murder in 2025 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Another former player, Darius Miles, remains jailed in the Tuscaloosa County Jail awaiting trial on capital murder charges after allegedly providing Davis with a gun belonging to another Alabama player, Brandon Miller. Miller was not charged.

Spears sued the Times in 2023 after the inaccurate report permanently linked his name to a murder investigation and caused emotional distress. Days after the lawsuit was filed, the newspaper acknowledged its error in an editor’s note and corrected the story. Christian Spears, the player's father, stated that the family initially sought a simple retraction.

"Our goal was a simple retraction from The New York Times,"

Christian Spears, via Patch

Christian Spears added that the family was met with defensive posturing rather than accountability, noting that the newspaper defended its inaccurate article and acted as if its power made it untouchable before the Alabama jury made it clear they were wrong.

Matt Glover, an attorney representing Spears, welcomed the outcome and expressed hope that the decision would improve journalism standards nationwide. The $9.25 million award includes $7.5 million for punitive damages, which represents the bulk of the total amount. Legal experts note that punitive damages are frequently a primary reason for a losing defendant to challenge a verdict.

The newspaper acknowledged its error and published an editor's note correcting the story days after the initial publication. Spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander issued a statement criticizing the jury's decision.

"We're disappointed the jury found The Times liable for an honest mistake,"

Charlie Stadtlander, spokesperson, via The Guardian and Yahoo News

Stadtlander added that the publication thanked the jury for its service, but stated that the verdict and award of damages were contrary to law and not supported by the evidence.

The publication further noted in its own coverage of the verdict that it had not lost a domestic defamation lawsuit brought in the United States over one of its articles in more than 50 years.

Following the controversy, Spears transferred from Alabama after the 2023–24 season and spent two seasons at Marshall. He is now a senior at West Liberty University in West Virginia, continuing his college basketball career.

Key Timeline of Events

• January 2023: Jamea Harris is killed in a shooting in Tuscaloosa involving individuals associated with the University of Alabama basketball team.
• March 2023: The New York Times publishes a report falsely identifying Kai Spears as a passenger in a vehicle connected to the shooting.
• May 2023: Spears files a defamation lawsuit against the newspaper on 30 May 2023, prompting a correction and editor's note days later.
• August 2026: An eight-person jury reaches a verdict on Thursday following a nine-day trial, awarding Spears $9.25 million.

Legal teams for the media outlet are currently exploring their legal options and reviewing potential challenges to the verdict and the financial award.