The long-running legal battle between writer E. Jean Carroll and former US president Donald Trump has reached a fresh climax. Carroll is now demanding Trump pay the $5m awarded by a New York jury after his appeal against the verdict was rejected.
UK legal experts have described the outcome as a ‘landmark defamation precedent’ that could shift the balance of power for ordinary people taking on the super-wealthy. The case centred on Trump’s denial of Carroll’s claim that he sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. The jury found Trump liable for defamation and battery, awarding $2m for the assault and $2.
98m for defamation. Trump’s legal team argued the award was excessive and that the trial judge had made errors. But the appeals court disagreed, upholding the verdict.
For Carroll, a former Elle magazine advice columnist, the ruling is a vindication after years of public ridicule. For legal observers, the case sets a powerful example. Sarah Jenkins, Economy & Labour Reporter: “This is about more than one woman’s fight.
It shows that even the most powerful can be held accountable. In a world where defamation claims are often used to silence victims, this verdict sends a message that the truth matters.” The financial impact on Trump, who is already facing several other civil and criminal cases, remains to be seen.
But for now, Carroll’s victory stands as a rare win for an individual against a billionaire.
