Trump's $15 billion suit against NY Times struck as 'improper,' judge allows refiling
New York TimesNew York Times(US:NYT) CNBC·2025-09-19 17:23

Core Points - A federal judge dismissed President Trump's $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, labeling it as "decidedly improper and impermissible" but allowed for a shorter amended complaint to be filed within a month [2][4] - The judge criticized the original lawsuit for being excessively lengthy and filled with irrelevant praise and allegations, consuming 85 pages with only a few pages dedicated to the actual claims [2][3] - The judge emphasized that a legal complaint should not serve as a platform for political rhetoric or personal grievances, likening it to a public relations tool rather than a serious legal document [3] Legal Proceedings - Trump and his legal team have 28 days to submit an amended lawsuit, which must not exceed 40 pages, excluding certain elements [4] - The original complaint included Penguin Random House as a defendant due to a book published by them that Trump’s lawyers claimed was defamatory [5] - Trump's legal team expressed intent to hold the media accountable through the lawsuit, while The New York Times welcomed the judge's ruling, indicating the complaint was more political than legal [6]