“Jackie” From False UVA Fraternity Rape Article Testifies In Suit Against Rolling Stone

Alex Buscemi9 years ago

The girl who lied about being brutally gang raped at the Phi Kappa Psi house at the University of Virginia, detailed in a since-redacted Rolling Stone article, was deposed yesterday. No news on what occurred in the courtroom has been released yet.

The lawyers for “Jackie” tried to weasel her out of testifying, saying that reliving the ordeal in court could traumatize her all over again. Traumatize her again? She made it up! The only trauma she could possibly have experienced was from remorse for nearly ruining the lives of innocent people in a bid for attention.

But a Virginia judge ruled that “Jackie” would indeed have to appear in court. While there are multiple cases against Rolling Stone for the massive journalistic error, including one by the fraternity, this appearance will be in the defamation lawsuit by Nicole P. Eramo. In the article, Eramo was portrayed as a villain who did nothing but let “Jackie” suffer when she tried to report her rape.

From The New York Times:

A judge in Virginia ruled Tuesday that a former University of Virginia student whose account of a gang rape on campus was the basis of a retracted Rolling Stone article must give a deposition on Thursday in a defamation lawsuit against the magazine.

Lawyers for the former student, identified in the magazine only as Jackie, argued that having to relive the ordeal could traumatize her again. But the woman is a key figure in the lawsuit by Nicole P. Eramo, an associate dean, who says she was portrayed as the “chief villain” in the 2014 article.

The ruling, by Chief Judge Glen Conrad of the Western District of Virginia, will require Jackie to be available for questioning by lawyers for Rolling Stone and Ms. Eramo, according to the Washington radio station WTOP. Recordings and transcripts will be made confidential.

Ms. Eramo is seeking nearly $8 million in damages from Rolling Stone, its parent company and Sabrina Rubin Erdely, the author of the article. A review of the article by the Columbia School of Journalism found a sweeping series of missteps, including a failure to verify Jackie’s account independently.

Get nice and comfortable on the stand, Jackie. I’m sure you’ll be back up there soon once these other suits start up..

[via The New York Times]

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