A Florida judge ruled in favor of U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young, allowing his defamation lawsuit against CNN to proceed to a high-stakes trial next month. The court found that CNN’s correction of its reporting was insufficient to avoid punitive damages in Young’s case.
Young –– who owns the security consulting company Nemex Enterprises –– claims CNN harmed his reputation and business during a segment on Jake Tapper’s program “The Lead,” which spread widely on social media. In one instance, Young’s image appeared on screen with the chyron, “Afghans trying to flee Taliban face black markets, exorbitant fees, no guarantee of safety or success.”