CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - The Latest on a defamation trial against Rolling Stone over a discredited story about a gang rape at the University of Virginia(all times local):
7:15 p.m.
A federal judge is considering whether the jury in the defamation trial against Rolling Stone should be able to watch a video of the reporter discussing reporting mistakes she made while in college.
Attorneys for University of Virginia administrator Nicole Eramo want to admit as evidence a video of Sabrina Rubin Erdely discussing an article about folk singer Michelle Shocked that earned her a college journalism award from Rolling Stone.
In the video, Erdely acknowledged that “just about everything in the story was wrong.” Erdely said she missed most of the press conference where Shocked spoke and then “borrowed whatever facts” she could find in media publications at the time to write the article.
An attorney for Eramo says it’s “the same kind of attribution problems” that occurred in the 2014 story “A Rape on Campus.”
The judge says he will rule on the issue Thursday.
Erdely took the stand for the first time Wednesday. Her testimony is expected to continue through Thursday.
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11:30 a.m.
A defense attorney for Rolling Stone is cross-examining a University of Virginia administrator seeking $7.85 million in a defamation lawsuit over a retracted story about a gang rape at the school.
WVIR-TV reports (https://bit.ly/2ekGC1v) that defense attorney Elizabeth McNamara asked administrator Nicole Eramo on Wednesday why she and the university didn’t investigate multiple rape allegations from the woman identified only as “Jackie.”
Eramo said it was best for police to investigate, but Jackie wasn’t cooperating with investigators.
Reporter Sabrina Rubin Erdely is expected to testify later Wednesday. Her 2014 story described Jackie’s account of being raped by seven men at a fraternity house in 2012. A police investigation found no evidence to back up claims.
Eramo counseled Jackie and claims the article portrayed her as indifferent to Jackie’s assault because she wanted to protect the school’s reputation.
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4 a.m.
The reporter of a Rolling Stone story about a gang rape at the University of Virginia that was later retracted is expected to take the stand in the defamation trial against the magazine.
Sabrina Rubin Erdely is expected to testify Wednesday after attorneys finish questioning university administrator Nicole Eramo, who sued the magazine for $7.85 million.
Erdely’s November 2014 story described in alarming detail a woman’s account of being raped by seven men at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house in September 2012. A police investigation found no evidence to back up claims made by the woman identified only as “Jackie.”
Eramo counseled Jackie and claims the article portrayed her as indifferent to Jackie’s assault. An attorney for Eramo said Tuesday that the case is about a “journalistic failure.”
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