Lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against The New York Times dismissed by Judge: Deemed "Improper" and "Beyond Court's Permissible Bounds"
In a significant turn of events, a federal judge has dismissed Donald Trump's $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times. The lawsuit, filed this week, accused the newspaper, its reporters, and Penguin Random House of peddling a fact-free narrative that Mark Burnett discovered and transformed Trump into a celebrity for 'The Apprentice'.
The judge, Steven Merryday, nominated by President George H.W. Bush, criticized the lawsuit for being a platform for vituperation and invective, not a serious legal filing. He stated that the complaint in this action extends far beyond the outer bound of expressive latitude for pleading a client's claim. The dismissal was due to the lawsuit being "improper and impermissible."
The lawsuit referred to Susanne Craig and Ross Buettner's book, 'Lucky Loser'. The authors, along with the Times, were named as defendants for an article they wrote titled "The Star-Making Machine That Created 'Donald Trump'." The article was headlined as such in The New York Times.
The lawsuit took particular issue with the notion that Trump's celebrity fame was due to Burnett and NBC's The Apprentice. It exulted Trump as someone who made "the greatest personal and political achievement in American history." The lawsuit also mentioned Trump's previous appearances in movies like 'Home Alone 2' and 'Zoolander', and TV shows such as 'The Nanny' and 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'.
A spokesperson for Trump's legal team stated that Trump will continue to hold the Fake News accountable through this powerhouse lawsuit against The New York Times, its reporters, and Penguin Random House. However, a spokesperson for The Times said that the judge's quick ruling recognized that the complaint was a political document rather than a serious legal filing.
The Times expressed that they will not be deterred by intimidation tactics and will continue to pursue the facts without fear or favor, standing up for journalists' First Amendment right to ask questions on behalf of the American people. The newspaper stated that the claim has no merit, lacks any legitimate legal claims, and is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting.
Judge Merryday has allowed Trump's lawyers to file a new complaint within 28 days, but it cannot exceed 48 pages. It remains to be seen how the Trump team will respond to this setback in their legal battle against The New York Times.
