Judge Expedites Carroll Damages Claim Against Trump

Writer E. Jean Carroll has initiated formal proceedings to collect $5.8 million in damages from former President Donald Trump following the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to hear his appeal. On Wednesday, Judge Lewis Kaplan granted an expedited schedule for the collection process, mandating that Trump’s legal team submit a response by July 7.

The legal dispute stems from a 2019 defamation lawsuit, which resulted in a jury finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. While the initial award was $5 million, accrued interest has increased the total liability to approximately $5.8 million. Carroll’s counsel, Roberta Kaplan, filed a motion earlier this week accusing the defense of employing dilatory tactics to avoid payment, asserting that the Supreme Court’s decision marks the final stage of the litigation.

Trump, who continues to characterize the litigation as politically motivated, maintains that the trials were procedurally flawed. The current collection effort pertains specifically to the first of two civil cases brought by Carroll. A separate jury verdict in January 2024 awarded Carroll $83.3 million in a subsequent defamation and battery case, which remains subject to ongoing appellate challenges. The court’s decision to expedite the current payment request signals a shift toward enforcement following the exhaustion of high-court appeals for the initial judgment.