According to a report by Fox 19, CNN has opted to settle a lawsuit with Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann for an undisclosed amount.
Fox 19 reports:
“The amount of the settlement was not made public during a hearing at the federal courthouse in Covington, Kentucky.”
Related: Covington Catholic High School Student Nick Sandmann to Sue CNN for Over $250 Million
The lawsuit against CNN is one of many brought against other major publications including The Washington Post and NBC Universal. There are also plans to sue Gannett and Nathan Phillips.
The lawsuit came about after a January 2019 incident at the March for Life in Washington DC. The incident involved students from Covington Catholic High School including Nick Sandmann and Native American activist Nathan Phillips.
On January 18, 2019 a video went viral that purported to show students from Covington Catholic High School harassing and mocking a Native American Vietnam veteran by the name of Nathan Phillips.
The story hit all the keynotes for sensationalism, and it didn’t take long for it to spread like wildfire.
Sandmann became an overnight symbol to hate, as both media personalities and celebrities attacked the student for what they perceived as a grave injustice on his part.
Actors such as Michael Rapaport of Netflix’s Atypical and Alyssa Milano, attacked the Covington students for wearing MAGA hats, though that wasn’t the worst of it.
Disney producer Jack Morrissey had to delete a tweet that wished death via woodchipper on the Covington students.
Sandmann and his family would have move their home temporarily and he was barred from attending school direct after the incident.
However, more footage of the incident would emerge showing it was Phillips who approached the Covington students and began the encounter.
Following this barrage of hate directed at him, Sandmann sought out legal counsel who quickly sent notices to personalities and organizations of a possible lawsuit heading their way.
Fox 19 reports the original lawsuit against CNN sought $800 million in damages. Sandmann’s lawyer L. Lin Wood said the damages were being sought for “emotional distress Nicholas and his family suffered.”
Wood previously provided an update on the lawsuit on January 4th.
He wrote, “Wheels of justice are grinding forward in the determined pursuit of truth & justice for Nicholas Sandmann. Media defendants usually focus legal effort on creating unnecessary delay, diversion & cost to avoid accountability for wrongdoing. Known tactics. Thanks for asking.”
Wheels of justice are grinding forward in the determined pursuit of truth & justice for Nicholas Sandmann. Media defendants usually focus legal effort on creating unnecessary delay, diversion & cost to avoid accountability for wrongdoing. Known tactics. Thanks for asking. https://t.co/2IJz5Hk4WL
— Lin Wood (@LLinWood) January 4, 2020