Florida Judge Dismisses Trump's $15 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against New York Times

FLORIDA JUDGE DISMISSES TRUMP'S DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST NEW YORK TIMES A Florida federal judge on Friday dismissed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against The New York Times, citing the lengthy and burdensome nature of the complaint. U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday ruled that Trump's 85-page lawsuit was overly long and contained language that had no bearing on the legal case. According to court documents, Merryday wrote in a four-page order: "A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations or a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally. This action will begin, will continue, and will end in accord with the rules of procedure and in a professional and dignified manner." The lawsuit targeted four Times journalists in a book and three articles published within a two-month period before the last election. The Times had described the lawsuit as "meritless" and an attempt to discourage independent reporting. "We welcome the judge's quick ruling, which recognized that this lawsuit was not about seeking justice but about trying to silence critical voices," said a spokesperson for The New York Times in a statement. The dismissal of the lawsuit is seen as a significant setback for Trump, who has been vocal in his criticism of the media and has filed numerous lawsuits against various outlets. However, some legal experts argue that the ruling may not be the final word on the matter. "This decision does not necessarily mean that the case will never go forward," said Eugene Volokh, a law professor at UCLA. "The judge has given Trump 28 days to file an amended complaint that should not exceed 40 pages. If he can do so in a more concise and focused manner, the case may still proceed." The lawsuit was filed just weeks before the last presidential election, sparking accusations from critics that it was an attempt to influence public opinion. The Times had argued that the lawsuit was an abuse of the court system and an effort to intimidate journalists into self-censorship. In a statement, Trump's lawyers said they were "disappointed" by the ruling but would continue to pursue the case. "We will review the decision and determine our next course of action," said a spokesperson for Trump's legal team. The dismissal of the lawsuit is seen as a victory for press freedom advocates, who have long argued that such lawsuits are an attempt to silence critical voices and undermine the First Amendment. "This ruling sends a clear message that judges will not tolerate frivolous lawsuits aimed at intimidating journalists into self-censorship," said Katie Townsend, a lawyer with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. "We hope this decision will serve as a deterrent to others who would seek to use the courts to silence critical reporting." *Reporting by Fortune.*