The High Cost of Name-Calling

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

When a jury makes a quick decision, it is usually a sign that they believe they are dealing with a very open-and-shut matter.  Yesterday it took a New York jury of nine individuals less than three hours to set an amount for damages in the second defamation suit that columnist E. Jean Carroll brought against Donald Trump.   The judge had already ruled Trump guilty of defaming the writer, and the jury's job was to hear the facts in the case and then make a determination as to the amount of damages which should be awarded.

Yesterday, after Trump had stormed out of the courtroom during closing arguments by Carroll's attorney, the jury, in private deliberations, quickly arrived at an amount:  $83,300,000.   The award includes $11 million for damages to the writer's reputation, $7.3 million for emotional harm, and $65 million in punitive damages.

Last May in a civil suit brought by Carroll, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing  the writer and awarded her $5,000,000 for the sexual assault and defamation.  That amount still stands as well, bringing Trump's current amount due to E. Jean Carroll to $88.3 million.

Donald Trump, who is very adept at using his many legal problems and courtroom appearances as campaign stratagems, was quickly on the social media platform, Truth Social, following the jury's decision regarding damages owed to E. Jean Carroll - and having already suffered two courtroom defeats for defaming her, Trump did not mention the columnist at all in the posting.  Now his target is Joe Biden, a public figure:

"Absolutely ridiculous!  I fully disagree with both verdicts and will be appealing this whole Biden-directed witch hunt focused on me and the Republican party.  Our legal system is out of control and being used as a political weapon.  They have taken away all first amendment rights.  THIS IS NOT AMERICA!"

Donald Trump was wise to not mention E. Jean Carroll in his latest posting.  She has already proven that she will sue - and she does hire very good lawyers!  If Trump could just be quiet and pay attention, he might actually learn something from her.

One former Republican operative was quoted in the media yesterday as saying, with regard to the latest verdict, "Donald Trump is going to have to sell a lot of hats."  Get those checkbooks ready, MAGA camp members!