$7.8M Rolling Stone defamation trial opens
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Opening statements have begun in the defamation trial against Rolling Stone over its now-discredited story about a gang rape at the University of Virginia.
University administrator Nicole Eramo is suing the magazine for $7.85 million. Her attorney Tom Clare told the jury Tuesday that the magazine knew that Eramo encouraged the woman to report the alleged sexual assault to police, but didn’t include that in its story.
Eramo says the 2014 article portrayed her as the “chief villain.” The attorney says Jackie’s deposition testimony contradicts the magazine’s portrayal.
The article told the harrowing story of a student identified only as “Jackie,” who claimed she was raped by seven men in a fraternity initiation. A police investigation found no evidence to back up Jackie’s claims and details in the narrative didn’t hold up under scrutiny.