• CNN found liable for defamation of a U.S. Navy veteran who aided in evacuations from Afghanistan after the 2021 military withdrawal.
• A Florida jury awarded $5 million in damages to Zachary Young for reputational harm caused by CNN's reporting.
• The settlement will prevent further proceedings to determine punitive damages.
• Young's lawsuit highlighted that he did not exploit Afghans but charged corporations for his evacuation services.
• CNN maintained its innocence but acknowledged regret over certain terminology used.

In a significant legal outcome, CNN has reached a settlement agreement totaling $5 million with Zachary Young, a U.S. Navy veteran, who accused the news network of defaming him. Young, who facilitated evacuations from Afghanistan following the U.S. military's withdrawal in 2021, claimed that CNN portrayed him unfairly as a profiteer exploiting desperate Afghan citizens. The jury's verdict, delivered in Panama City, Florida, underlined the jury's finding of defamation resulting in serious reputational damage to Young. During a two-week trial, Young's legal team presented evidence to support claims that CNN's reporting on Reuters not only inaccurately labeled his operations as part of a "black market" but also suggested that he charged exorbitant fees directly to Afghan evacuees, which Young vehemently denied. Instead, he affirmed that the fees were paid by corporate sponsors aimed at assisting Afghan evacuees. CNN's reporting, aired on "The Lead with Jake Tapper," had significant allegations, indicating that Young was preying on vulnerable individuals during a critical humanitarian crisis. Despite CNN's claims of standing by their reporting, they expressed regret over specific terms used during the segment, particularly "black market," indicating a recognition of the sensitive nature of the matter. After a preliminary phase determining compensatory damages, which the jury ruled in favor of Young, a settlement was reached to avoid punitive damages that were initially on the table. According to BBC reports, Young stated, “From the very beginning, it wasn't about money, it was about holding [CNN] accountable and exposing what they did to me.” He emphasized that the verdict was a form of vindication and optimism for revitalizing his business which had suffered following CNN's report. While this case represents a rare victory for plaintiffs in defamation actions against media companies, it reflects growing scrutiny over journalistic practices in covering sensitive international issues. For further reading, see the full article on BBC and Al Jazeera.