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Texas Jury Awards $3.2 Million in Defamation Case

2/5/2026

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Smith's Defamation Verdict

A Texas jury ordered Summer Smith and her attorney Kim Cole to pay $3.2 million to Asher Vann for defamation.
Smith claimed Asher Vann's son, SeMarion Humphrey, racially bullied hers during a 2021 sleepover.
She raised nearly $120,000 on GoFundMe for therapy, but funds were spent on personal expenses.
Vann faced death threats and testified that the events were exaggerated and that the boys were merely engaging in pranks.

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Johnson's Testimony Unveiled

Graham Johnson, a researcher, testified about payments to private investigators and ex-journalists tied to unlawful activities at Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail.
Johnson said he paid over £100,000 to individuals central to the claims brought by Prince Harry and others.
Associated Newspapers Ltd denies all allegations, calling them “preposterous.”
The claimants' legal team accuses ANL of using these individuals for unlawful activities, while the case continues.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. Supreme Court's 2011 ruling raised the burden of proof for public figures in defamation cases, impacting individuals like Summer Smith, who faced a $3.2 million judgment. This decision reflects ongoing debates about media accountability and personal reputation, paralleling the 2013 Defamation Act in the UK, which introduced requirements for claimants to demonstrate "serious harm" to their reputation.

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Smith's Defamation Verdict

A Texas jury ordered Summer Smith and her attorney Kim Cole to pay $3.2 million to Asher Vann for defamation.
Smith claimed Asher Vann's son, SeMarion Humphrey, racially bullied hers during a 2021 sleepover.
She raised nearly $120,000 on GoFundMe for therapy, but funds were spent on personal expenses.
Vann faced death threats and testified that the events were exaggerated and that the boys were merely engaging in pranks.

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