Jesse Ventura wins 1.8 mil in defamation suit

[Incredibale]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jesse-ve...famation-case/

ST. PAUL, Minnesota -- A jury awarded former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura $1.8 million on Tuesday in his lawsuit against the estate of "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle.

Ventura was awarded $1.3 million for unjust enrichment, and $500,000 in damages for defamation, CBS station WCCO reports.

On the sixth day of deliberations, the federal jury decided that the 2012 best-selling book defamed Ventura in its description of a bar fight in California in 2006. Kyle wrote that he decked a man whom he later identified as Ventura after the man allegedly said the Navy SEALs "deserve to lose a few."

Ventura testified that Kyle fabricated the passage about punching him. Kyle said in testimony videotaped before his death last year that his story was accurate.

Legal experts had said Ventura had to clear a high legal bar to win, since as a public figure he had to prove "actual malice." According to the jury instructions, Ventura had to prove with "clear and convincing evidence" that Kyle either knew or believed what he wrote was untrue, or that he harbored serious doubts about its truth.

The jury told the judge Monday that it didn't believe it could reach a unanimous verdict, but the judge instructed them to continue. On Tuesday, attorneys for both sides agreed that the verdict did not need to be unanimous and would allow a verdict if only eight of 10 jurors agreed.

After finding in favor of Ventura, the jury was also tasked with awarding damages for any harm to his reputation, humiliation and embarrassment. Jurors had to find that Ventura suffered an economic loss as a direct result of Kyle's statements, or that Kyle used Ventura to profit unjustly.

More at the top link.

Since there are so many cut and paste memes being posted on social media about this, a few things made clear:

For those who don't know, Jesse Ventura did not initiate the suit against the widow. It started when he took Chris Kyle to court. After Kyle died, the suit continued against the estate.

Libel insurance from the publisher will cover the defamation and probably attorney fees per this link. Tara Kyle, the widow, will not be going bankrupt and she and her children will not end up on the street.

[Nihilan]

It should be mentioned that other than testimony by the defendant's estate, the defendants legal team was wholly unable to show evidence corroborating that Ventura did say those things.

Personally, i have great difficulty believing he did. He has been a longstanding supporter of the military's men and women.

[Deleted]

Wasn't Ventura in the unit that was the Daddy of SEALs?

[Nictuswolf]

Well, it did say they are at a bar.

A lot of shit gets said when you are sloshed.

[Masark]

Wasn't Ventura in the unit that was the Daddy of SEALs?

Yes, the Underwater Demolition Team.

[Rukentuts]

Well, it did say they are at a bar.

A lot of shit gets said when you are sloshed.

He also has a history of running his mouth. There's just no major evidence he did in this case. If the author were still alive the defense would undoubtedly had been stronger.

[Tradewind]

He ain't got time to litigate!