Navigation Here's How An $18M Defamation Verdict Was Knocked Down to $500
The case stemmed from allegedly defamatory statements made by a Ghanaian member of Parliament—broadcast from his home in New Jersey—about a BBC journalist. The politician argued that, once the court properly dismissed the claim for actual damages because the plaintiff journalist failed to establish any harm to his reputation from the alleged defamatory statements, the plaintiff therefore could only recover presumed, nominal damages, not to exceed $500 and could not collect punitive damages. The judge agreed.
