A New York judge overseeing E. Jean Carroll’s defamation lawsuit against former President Donald Trump has denied Trump’s request to delay paying over $80 million in damages to Carroll, according to a court filing on Sunday.
Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, submitted a motion on Friday seeking an “administrative stay” to halt Trump’s required payments to Carroll following defamatory statements he made against her in 2019.
Judge Kaplan, however, declined to grant the delay without allowing Carroll and her legal team to respond, setting a deadline for their response until Thursday at 5 p.m.
Habba’s motion requested Kaplan to postpone the payment for at least 30 days, citing the possibility of the verdict being reduced or eliminated on appeal through Trump’s post-trial motions.
The civil jury in New York had ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages in January, comprising $65 million in punitive damages and $18.3 million in compensatory damages, after finding that he defamed her.
Carroll, a former writer, had filed the defamation lawsuit against Trump over his denial of her allegation that he sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.
The court’s rejection of Trump’s request marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between Trump and Carroll, adding to the complexity and intensity of the high-profile case.
Carroll’s legal team now has the opportunity to respond to Trump’s motion, with the court expected to make further determinations based on the arguments presented by both parties.
The denial of the delay underscores the court’s commitment to ensuring the timely execution of the jury’s verdict, reaffirming the principle of accountability in defamation cases, regardless of the parties involved.
As the legal proceedings continue, all eyes will remain on the courtroom as the saga between Trump and Carroll unfolds, with implications for both individuals and the broader legal landscape surrounding defamation law.