The ruling highlighted that Bennet’s testimony and other relevant evidence could have led the jury to find that the editorial was published with knowledge of its falsehood. The Second Circuit also noted that jurors had received push notifications about the judge’s dismissal ruling during their deliberations, which could have tainted their verdict.
Legal Missteps and Future Prospects
Despite the scathing critique of Judge Rakoff’s conduct, the Second Circuit declined Palin’s request to disqualify him from the case. Instead, the court expressed confidence in Judge Rakoff’s ability to impartially oversee the new trial.
Palin’s legal team, including Shane Vogt of Turkel Cuva Barrios PA, welcomed the ruling as a major step toward ensuring accountability for misleading content published by media organizations. “The truth deserves a level playing field,” Vogt remarked, emphasizing Palin’s eagerness to present her case with a fair jury.
Palin Wins New NYT Libel Trial : New York Times Responds
In a brief statement, The New York Times expressed disappointment with the ruling but maintained optimism about prevailing in the upcoming retrial. “We’re confident we will prevail in a retrial,” said Times spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander.
