Judge Dismisses Trump’s $15 Billion Lawsuit Against New York Times

A federal judge has dismissed President Donald Trump‘s $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times, ruling that the legal action did not comply with federal requirements. Judge Steven D. Merryday of the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida announced the decision on March 15, 2024, stating that the complaint was “decidedly improper and impermissible.”

The lawsuit, which spanned 85 pages, was criticized by Judge Merryday for its length and complexity. He emphasized that legal complaints should contain a “short, plain, direct statement of allegations of fact.” Specifically, he noted, “Alleging only two simple counts of defamation, the complaint consumes eighty-five pages. Count I appears on page eighty, and Count II appears on page eighty-three.”

Judge Merryday provided Trump with four weeks to submit a revised complaint that adheres to the federal guidelines, limiting it to a maximum of 40 pages. He pointed out that the document had become a platform for extensive arguments and legal citations rather than a straightforward legal complaint. The judge stated, “A complaint remains an improper and impermissible place for the tedious and burdensome aggregation of prospective evidence.”

Earlier this week, Trump announced his intention to sue the New York Times, alleging “biased coverage.” In a post on Truth Social, he referred to the newspaper as one of the “worst and most degenerate” in American history. He characterized the lawsuit as a response to the Times’ editorial choices, including its endorsement of Kamala Harris for the 2024 US elections, which he claimed demonstrated a partisan bias against him.

Trump’s post conveyed his sentiments about the press, stating, “Today, I have the Great Honor of bringing a $15 Billion Dollar Defamation and Libel Lawsuit against The New York Times, one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the History of our Country.” He further claimed that the newspaper serves as a “mouthpiece” for the “Radical Left Democrat Party” and labeled the situation as the “single largest illegal Campaign contribution, EVER.”

The dismissal of Trump’s lawsuit adds to the ongoing tensions between the former president and the media, particularly regarding accusations of biased reporting. While the legal battle continues, the outcome may further influence public discourse surrounding media coverage of political figures.