A Florida judge has dealt a blow to CNN in the defamation lawsuit filed by U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young, ruling that the network's expert witness cannot testify that Young suffered no financial losses due to a CNN segment. Young alleges the segment falsely implied he profited illegally while assisting Afghan refugees during the 2021 withdrawal. The judge determined the expert's conclusion overreached his qualifications and intruded on the jury's role in assessing credibility.
Young claims CNN damaged his reputation and business by portraying him as exploiting vulnerable Afghans during a segment on Jake Tapper's "The Lead." This segment was subsequently disseminated on social media and CNN's website. The veteran's legal team successfully argued against the testimony of CNN's expert, Brian Buss, contesting his qualifications, methodology, and the redundant nature of his opinion in relation to another CNN expert.
CNN argued that Buss's assessment was valid, based on his review of Young's financial records, including tax returns, bank statements, and deposition testimony. Buss concluded that Young hadn't experienced any income decline due to the CNN segment, attributing any financial setbacks to other factors.
Judge William Henry, while acknowledging the need for a link between alleged harm and claimed damages, ruled that Buss's assertion that the CNN segment had zero impact on Young's income went too far. He stated that Buss could testify about Young's financial records and job-seeking efforts, but couldn't definitively conclude there was no financial loss. Judge Henry emphasized that determining credibility and truthfulness is the jury's responsibility, not the expert's.
This ruling follows Judge Henry's earlier denial of CNN's motion for summary judgment, enabling Young to pursue punitive damages. The court explicitly stated it found no evidence that Young took money from Afghans. The trial is set to commence on January 6th in Bay County, Florida.
