CNN Faces Defamation Lawsuit Over Afghan Evac

CNN To Face Defamation Case In Florida Over Alleged False Narrative About Afghanistan Evacuations

A Florida appeals court Wednesday said a security consultant could pursue a punitive damages claim against CNN in a defamation and trade-libel lawsuit stemming from the evacuation of Afghan citizens as the United States withdrew from Afghanistan.

A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal rejected CNN’s arguments that Zachary Young, the operator of Nemex Enterprises, Inc., should not be able to seek punitive damages.

Young filed the Bay County lawsuit against CNN after 2021 reports about private-evacuation operators.

“Specifically, Young alleged CNN repeatedly accused him of operating in a ‘black market’ and mischaracterized his work as exploitative because he charged ‘exorbitant’ fees Afghan citizens could not pay,” Wednesday’s ruling said. “Young claimed he was particularly harmed because he was the only private evacuator profiled in the reporting.”

With the lawsuit pending, a circuit judge approved a motion by Young to seek punitive damages. That led CNN to appeal, but the panel Wednesday said Young provided enough evidence to be able to pursue punitive damages.

“We must consider whether Young made a reasonable evidentiary proffer to provide a reasonable basis for recovery of punitive damages at this stage,” said the ruling, written by Judge Clay Roberts and joined by Judges Thomas Winokur and Robert Long.

“After reviewing the totality of the proffered evidence in the light most favorable to Young, we conclude that he did. Young sufficiently proffered evidence of actual malice, express malice, and a level of conduct outrageous enough to open the door for him to seek punitive damages.

MSN

Florida’s First District Court of Appeals affirmed that the plaintiff, Navy veteran Zachary Young, could seek punitive damages in addition to economic and emotional damages, from CNN in a civil trial. They allegedly defamed him regarding his work in getting people out of Afghanistan. The total could amount to up $1 billion.  Young needed to prove malice and according to the ruling, he’s done exactly that.

The defamation suit stemmed from a segment on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper about Young’s company Nemex Enterprises Inc. and the prices they were allegedly charging to get people out of Afghanistan. Tapper led into the segment by painting an image of “black market” hustlers who charged “exorbitant fees” taking advantage of desperate people:

In our world today, the U.S. government, the Biden administration says that as of last week it had assisted in the departure of at least 377 U.S. citizens and 279 lawful permanent residents of the U.S. from Afghanistan since August 31st. Still, many Afghans, Afghans who desperately want to flee Taliban rule and Afghans who say their lives are at stake, they remain behind. As CNN’s Alex Marquardt has discovered, Afghans trying to get out of the country, face a black market full of promises, demands of exorbitant fees, and no guarantee of safety or success.

CNN’s correspondent Alex Marquardt singled out Young’s company, not mentioning any others known to be working in-country to get people out. CNN has since edited The Lead by deleting the archived segment in question. Wonder if this will come up in tomorrow’s Presidential Debate. On CNN. With Tapper as a moderator.

Category: Afghanistan, Media, Schadenfreude