The New York Times will reportedly score a significant legal victory when a U.S. judge throws out a defamation lawsuit brought by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
According to Fox News Digital, Judge Jed Rakoff plans to dismiss the case even though the jury is still deliberating.
Palin sued the paper following a 2017 editorial about gun control which came in the wake of Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise being shot by a man at Congressional baseball team practice in Washington.
Judge Rakoff said Palin’s legal team did not produce adequate evidence showing the Times knew the information was false.
Palin claimed the editorial defamed her by unfairly linking her to the 2011 mass shooting that killed six people and wounded then-Rep. Gabby Giffords.
Rakoff said he would issue an order dismissing the complaint after the jury returns its verdict; he added that an appeal would be imminent. The jury will not be made aware of the judge’s order until after deliberations.
The Times has admitted the report wasn’t factual but said it wasn’t intentional.
