Federal Appeals Court Rules In Favor Of Chris Kyle Estate In Jesse Ventura Defamation Case
The estate of American hero and legend Chris Kyle will no longer have to pay Jesse Ventura the $1.8M they owed him as a result of the lawsuit against them that was won by Ventura in 2014.
From CBS News:
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the jury’s 2014 award of $500,000 for defamation and $1.3 million for unjust enrichment against Kyle’s estate. Kyle, a former SEAL who was the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history with 160 confirmed kills, died in 2013.
The majority of the three-judge panel reversed the unjust-enrichment award, saying it fails as a matter of law. The majority also vacated the defamation award, but sent that portion of the case back to court for a new trial.
As the story goes, Chris Kyle wrote in his book, America Sniper, that Ventura was running his mouth at a bar one night and Kyle popped him in the face. Ventura alleged that no such incident occurred and filed a defamation lawsuit against Kyle. In 2014, the courts awarded Ventura $500,000 for defamation, paid for by American Sniper’s publisher, and another $1.3M for unjust enrichment.
Whoever’s side you are on, this is a win for Taya Kyle, who was forced to pay the $1.3M on her own. To help raise money to offset the costs, Forged Clothing started a “Legend Campaign” selling Chris Kyle themed shirts, and raised $1,000,000 in 11 days to help Taya pay that sum back. So now Taya can get the money she was forced to give up and can hopefully finally close this chapter of her husband’s book..
[via CBS News]
Image via YouTube
Fuck Ventura. Let this man rest.
10 years ago at 10:16 amChris Kyle was a Badass, and Jesse Ventura is a punk bitch. If I remember correctly, there were witnesses to him shooting his mouth off and getting punched for it. I also seem to remember that the court originally ruled that it was likely this actually happened, but that he was still “defamed” by the book, so this is a big win for common sense.
10 years ago at 10:20 amYeah you’re remembering it wrong. Kyle claimed Ventura said “fuck SEALs” and was insulting the military in general, despite Ventura being a SEAL himself.
Kyle has been accused of fabricating several stories in his book (including the killing of his would-be car jackers and sniping “looters” from the top of the Superdome after Katrina). Given the track record for Mr. Kyle, I’m leaning towards Ventura being truthful about the altercation.
I respect Chris Kyle for everything he did overseas and he undoubtedly saved countless lives, but he clearly had some problems he needed to work out, possibly from PTSD.
10 years ago at 10:38 amI’ve read American Sniper multiple times and not once does it mention sniping looters from the roof of the superdome.
10 years ago at 10:54 amMy mistake. It wasn’t in the book, but he talked about it in public interviews rather frequently. Nonetheless my point still stands
10 years ago at 11:27 amDefinitely not in the book. Also Ventura was UDT, never completed seal training, which is splitting hairs, but nonetheless now neither of your points stand for shit.
10 years ago at 11:41 amGod bless Chris Kyle and his family
10 years ago at 10:24 amThank God some people in our government still have a sense of morality
10 years ago at 10:34 amThis is the best news I’ve read in a while.
10 years ago at 12:28 pmWhat a little bitch. It’s Chris Kyle, take it as a souvenir that he slapped you in the mouth for being out of line and call it a day. The nerve to sue for something like that and then get awarded is ridiculous. Glad they overturned this in the family’s favor.
10 years ago at 2:41 pm