Donald Trump’s negligence will likely cost him millions

Donald Trump risks paying millions more to alumni She Columnist E. Jean Carroll meanwhile has a “strong” case to sue him again for defamation, according to legal experts.

The former president was previously convicted by a New York jury of sexually abusing Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s, then defaming his character while denying the assault took place . On May 9, a jury ordered the former president to pay Carroll $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

A day after the civil lawsuit ruling, Trump showed up at a CNN town hall where he again attacked and insulted Carroll as a “crazy job,” denied ever meeting her, and suggested the allegation of abuse was a “made up story”.

In response, Carroll is seeking an amendment to a separate defamation lawsuit she filed against Trump in 2019 — which was delayed by numerous appeals — to include comments made during the town hall. She is now seeking an additional $10 million in damages because the former president continues to publicly insult her.

Camron Dowlatshahi, a Los Angeles-based entertainment, employment and defamation attorney, said Trump is only hurting himself further by not reining in his public comments about the civil lawsuit, which work in favor of Carroll.

“She has a solid case. He doubles down on the lie that he has never met her, despite the fact that a) she has a picture of them together and b) there is already a judgment against him for sexual assault,” Dowlatshahi said. Newsweek.

“While the statement is similar to Trump’s previous denials, it is a new statement, i.e., a new publication, and therefore subjects him to additional liability for defamation.

“Usually a person found guilty of defamation is cautious and thoughtful in their subsequent public comments. This certainly does not apply to Donald Trump,” Dowlatshahi added. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he, again, doesn’t show up for trial and loses again.”

Newsweek contacted Trump’s legal team via email for comment.

In the amendment complaint, Carroll’s attorneys said Trump’s post-verdict comments at CNN’s May 10 town hall show “maliciousness” toward Carroll because it is “difficult to imagine defamatory behavior that could be motivated more by hatred, ill will or grudge”. .”

The complaint adds, “This conduct warrants a very significant punitive damages award in favor of Carroll both to punish Trump, to deter him from engaging in further libel, and to deter others from doing the same.”

Legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Joyce Alene also suggested that Trump’s remarks at CNN’s mayoralty could result in him paying Carroll millions more.

“That’s because a jury might decide that Trump’s conduct is outrageous – he libeled her again just a day after the first jury returned their verdict against him,” Alene said. tweeted.

“This kind of egregious abuse could justify an award of substantial punitive damages. Punitive damages punish a defendant who acted maliciously and discourage others from doing the same. A jury could award Carroll damages -interest of an amount greater than what it obtained in the first case.”

However, there is no indication that Trump plans to stop his attacks on Carroll.

A day after news of Carroll’s $10 million amendment emerged, Trump said on Truth Social that the abuse incident was a “fake made-up story,” adding “I wouldn’t want to hear about it or touch her”.