Sandmann's Multimillion-Dollar Libel Lawsuit Against Major Media Outlets Dismissed

KENTUCKY — A multimillion-dollar libel lawsuit brought against five major news outlets by a former high school student involved in a viral confrontation in 2019 has been dismissed, according to The Courier Journal.

Nicholas Sandmann, who was a 16-year-old Covington Catholic High School student attending an anti-abortion event at the Lincoln Memorial during the incident, brought the lawsuit against outlets including Gannet, the New York Times, ABC News, CBS News and Rolling Stone for $1.25 billion, The Courier Journal reported.

A video captured Sandmann wearing a Make America Great Again hat and smiling while standing nose-to-nose with Nathan Phillips, an activist attending a march for Native American rights who was chanting and beating a drum in the recording, according to The Courier Journal. Outlets reported Phillips’ statement that Sandmann blocked his way, which a judge determined to be an opinion and therefore protected by the First Amendment, according to The Courier Journal.

Sandmann’s attorney said he planned to appeal, according to The Courier Journal, which reported the Washington Post, NBC and CNN previously reached a settlement in the case.

Read more from The Courier Journal.