Former President Donald Trump has refiled a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, Penguin Random House, and several Times journalists after a federal judge struck his initial filing as overly verbose and procedurally improper.
What Changed: Original Dismissal & New Complaint
Judge Dismisses First Filing
- The original complaint spanned 85 pages and was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday, who found it “improper and impermissible” under Rule 8 for failing to present a concise claim.
- Merryday’s ruling criticized the document for being repetitive, laden with political rhetoric, and lacking a clear structure.
- The judge gave Trump 28 days to refile a more streamlined complaint, capped at 40 pages.
The Refiled Complaint
- Trump’s legal team submitted a 40-page revised suit in the Middle District of Florida.
- The new version retains most of the original allegations, seeking the same $15 billion in damages.
- One change: the complaint drops reporter Michael S. Schmidt, though Susanne Craig, Russ Buettner, and Peter Baker remain defendants.
- The suit challenges Times coverage and the book Lucky Loser, asserting that the reporting misrepresented Trump’s business record, wealth, and rise to fame.
Reactions & Implications
- The New York Times responded by reiterating the suit is meritless and characterizing the refiled complaint as a tactic to intimidate the press.
- Legal analysts note Trump faces uphill arguments in defamation law, especially as a public figure where proving “actual malice” is a high bar.
- The case reflects continuing tension between Trump and media outlets — a recurring pattern of lawsuits aimed at news organizations.
