A federal judge in Florida has dismissed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump against the New York Times. The judge, Steven Merryday, deemed Trump’s 85-page lawsuit excessive in length and filled with unnecessary language unrelated to the legal case.
Judge Merryday emphasized that a legal complaint should not serve as a platform for public relations or political speeches. He instructed Trump to submit a revised complaint within 28 days, limited to 40 pages.
The lawsuit targeted four journalists at the New York Times, focusing on a book and three articles published before the last election. The Times dismissed the suit as baseless and an attempt to hinder independent journalism.
Merryday criticized the lawsuit for its extensive content unrelated to the defamation claim, including details about Trump’s work on a TV show and media appearances. He highlighted that the lawsuit went beyond acceptable legal boundaries with its aggressive language.
Trump’s lawsuit singled out specific articles and journalists for allegedly spreading false narratives about his celebrity status and business history. The legal action also referenced other media outlets that Trump had previously sued and settled with.
In a separate lawsuit, Trump sued The Wall Street Journal and media magnate Rupert Murdoch over a story linking him to financier Jeffrey Epstein. The dismissal of Trump’s lawsuit against the New York Times marks another legal setback for the former president’s efforts to challenge media coverage.