Refugee Rescuer Suing CNN For Libel Wins Right to Seek Punitive Damages

Epoch Times ^ | 8/4/23 | Dan M. Berger

[CFW]

A former special operator who rescued refugees from Afghanistan as it fell to the Taliban in 2021 and whose business was destroyed by a CNN story he says was false and defamatory, won a significant procedural victory in a Florida court in his libel lawsuit against the network.

In an order allowing Zachary Young to sue for punitive damages, Judge William S. Henry in Bay County quoted startling language from CNN employees' internal emails and texts regarding the story that aired on Nov. 11, 2021.

Mr. Young, a security consultant with extensive military and government security experience, launched an effort to rescue at-risk people, primarily foreign companies or agencies' employees and family members.

[snip]

Judge Henry listed "the manner that the segments were pieced together" with chyrons scrolling along the bottom of the screen, the "tone and tenor," and the implication that Mr. Young engaged in "black-market operations" and charged "exorbitant prices."

Judge Henry cited Mr. Young having informed the defendant in advance there were inaccuracies in the story.

He said: "The internal emails/messages between defendant's employees that indicate an animus towards and a motivation to harm [plaintiff]—'We gonna nail this Zachary Young mf***er,' 'what a punchable face,' 'what a s***bag,' 'this guy is an a-hole,' 'it's your funeral bucko,' and 'he's a s***.'"

[CFW]

This is CNN.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

2. Changing to “This WAS CNN”. They deserve everything bad that they are going to get, and more.

[CFW]

I read the entire article just amazed at the total glee shown by the CNN employees at the thought of destroying this man’s reputation and rescue operation. That was their goal in publishing their severely slanted story full of out-right known lies.

[cport]

This is really huge. It’s very hard to nail the media for libel. Proving malice aforethought is tough. Seems like this might do it. Hopefully he’ll get better results from the judicial system and a better jury in Florida.