Former President Donald Trump has vowed to appeal a legal decision that requires him to pay journalist E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million for repeatedly defaming her. The decision was made by a Manhattan jury on January 26, 2024. The jury awarded Carroll $7.3 million for damage to her reputation, $11 million for emotional harm, and $65 million for punitive damages. This is not the first time Trump has been held liable for sexual abuse and defamation against Carroll, as another jury previously awarded her $5 million in damages. Trump allegedly sexually assaulted Carroll in a department store dressing room in 1996.
Punitive damages are intended to punish and deter a person from engaging in acts that are in question, such as defaming Carroll. They are also meant to send a message to others that similar behavior will not be tolerated. Punitive damages are separate from compensatory damages, which are awarded to compensate the victim for direct harm. In this case, the jury is saying that Trump’s actions were so egregious that he should be punished above and beyond the compensatory damages.
Trump has stated that he will appeal the decision, and he does not have to pay anything until the appeal process is completed. The appeal will likely argue that the compensatory damages are too high and that punitive damages should not be awarded. If Trump’s appeal is unsuccessful and he is ordered to pay the full amount, he could choose to pay the judgment or claim that he does not have the assets to do so. If the court determines that he does have the assets and he refuses to pay, he could be held in contempt of court, which could result in fines or jail time. The appeals process could take a long time, potentially years, especially considering Trump’s history of drawing out legal processes.
While the amount of punitive damages awarded may seem high to the average person, it is about punishing Trump’s behavior rather than compensating Carroll for her harm. The $65 million in punitive damages is meant to make Trump stop his bad behavior.
