Months after a jury deadlocked on the question of whether a website defamed her, a new jury heard former Bengals cheerleader Sarah Jones’ case against thedirty.com, found in her favor, and awarded her $338,000 in damages.
According to the Associated Press, the jury found that 2009 postings on thedirty.com about Jones were “substantially false,” and that site proprietor Nik Richie “acted with malice or reckless disregard in posting anonymous submissions.”
The website has appeal rights, and it would be a surprised if they aren’t utilized.
After, and unrelated, to the posts made at the website, Jones pleaded guilty to having sex with a student while she was working as a high school teacher.
The jury deliberated nearly six hours on Wednesday before returning to court Thursday and reaching a unanimous verdict.