A U.S. federal judge has dismissed former President Donald Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, citing deficiencies in the lawsuit’s content. U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday stated that Trump failed to adhere to a federal rule requiring that legal claims be presented in a “short and plain statement” outlining the reasons for seeking court relief.
In his ruling, Judge Merryday emphasized that legal complaints should not serve as a venue for venting grievances against adversaries. He has granted Trump 28 days to revise and resubmit his complaint. Trump indicated his intention to file a lawsuit against The New York Times in a post on his platform, Truth Social, where he accused the newspaper of persistently publishing falsehoods about him.
The New York Times responded to the lawsuit by characterizing it as lacking merit. The newspaper asserted that the complaint fails to present legitimate legal claims and instead appears to be an attempt to suppress independent journalism.
In his 85-page ruling, Judge Merryday noted that the lawsuit is “repetitive” and “superfluous.” The suit was filed in federal court in Tampa and also targets Penguin Random House LLC, the publisher of a book by Times reporters. Trump’s allegations against the newspaper include claims that it functions as a “mouthpiece” for the Democratic Party.
Judge Merryday concluded that even if Trump’s allegations were substantiated, the manner in which the lawsuit was drafted violates court rules, rendering it “decidedly improper and impermissible.” As of now, neither Trump nor his legal team has publicly responded to the judge’s ruling.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62n7025wdgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss