A federal appeals court in Manhattan has upheld the $83.3 million defamation judgment against former President Donald Trump in the high-profile lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll, rejecting Trump’s attempt to overturn the jury’s ruling. The unanimous decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the trial court had properly managed the case and that the damages awarded were reasonable given the “extraordinary and egregious facts” surrounding the allegations.
The case originated from Carroll’s claim that Trump sexually assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room during the 1990s. When she publicly shared her story in 2019, she alleges that Trump defamed her by calling her a liar, forming the basis of the defamation lawsuit. In January 2024, a New York jury issued the $83.3 million penalty following a trial in which Trump took the witness stand and walked out of the courtroom during closing arguments.
Carroll has filed two civil lawsuits against Trump and prevailed in both. The $83.3 million award stems from her defamation claim, while a separate lawsuit, filed under a temporary New York law allowing victims of decades-old sexual assaults to pursue civil claims, resulted in a $5 million judgment.
In a statement, Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, praised the ruling, stating that the appeals court recognized that “E. Jean Carroll was telling the truth, and that President Donald Trump was not.” Kaplan added, “We look forward to concluding the appellate process so that justice may finally be served.”
Trump has signaled his intent to seek Supreme Court review of the $5 million verdict and is expected to challenge the most recent ruling on the $83.3 million defamation award as well. The White House declined to comment, directing inquiries to Trump’s personal attorney. Michael Madaio, representing Trump, did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Monday’s appellate decision.
While the Carroll appeals have largely gone against him, Trump has experienced victories in other legal matters. Notably, an intermediate New York appellate court vacated a nearly $500 million judgment in a civil fraud case brought by the state attorney general, which alleged that Trump inflated his asset values to secure better loan terms. However, the court upheld a finding of liability, prompting Trump to continue appealing parts of the case.
Monday’s decision solidifies Carroll’s defamation award and maintains the substantial financial penalty imposed on Trump, marking another key development in the series of ongoing lawsuits connected to his personal and professional conduct.
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