Title: Former President Trump Ordered to Pay Writer E. Jean Carroll Over $83 Million in Damages

In a landmark decision, a jury has ruled that former President Donald Trump must pay writer E. Jean Carroll a staggering sum of over $83 million in damages for repeatedly defaming her. The nine-person jury reached their verdict in just under three hours at a federal court in New York on Friday.

The hefty award includes $11 million for damage to Carroll's reputation, $7.3 million for emotional harm and other damages, and a staggering $65 million in punitive damages. The decision comes after intense closing arguments, during which Trump controversially stormed out of the courtroom. Although he returned for his own attorney's closing arguments, he left the courthouse before the jury returned their verdict.

Expressing his discontent, Trump took to his newly launched social media platform, Truth Social, to label the verdict "absolutely ridiculous" and state his intention to appeal. He claimed that his First Amendment rights had been violated and asserted, "THIS IS NOT AMERICA!"

Trump's attorney, Alina Habba, echoed his sentiments, calling the verdict "reeks" and denouncing it as a violation of the justice system. Carroll, on the other hand, left the courthouse without making any comments on the outcome.

The jury's role in this case was solely to determine the amount of damages that should be awarded to Carroll, as Trump had already been found liable for defaming her during his presidency. Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, had requested at least $24 million in compensatory damages and asked for "lots and lots of money" in punitive damages to deter future defamatory behavior from Trump.

Kaplan argued that Trump believed he was above the rules and should face consequences for his actions towards Carroll. She highlighted the numerous instances in which he continued to publicly attack Carroll, even after being found liable for defamation last year. Kaplan urged the jury to hold Trump accountable for what he had done to her client.

In her closing statement, Habba countered that Carroll had actively sought attention and comments, therefore failing to demonstrate that she was entitled to any damages. Habba also asserted that Trump should not be held responsible for the threats Carroll received online, comparing his influence to controlling the weather.

The trial, which began on January 16, saw Trump as the final witness, testifying for less than five minutes. This is the second legal victory for Carroll against Trump, as a different jury had previously found him liable for sexually abusing her in a New York City department store in the 1990s and for defaming her after leaving the White House. In that case, she was awarded $5 million in damages, and Trump is appealing the judgment.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, citing the previous jury's findings, held Trump liable for defamation, thereby preventing him from denying Carroll's claims. However, Trump managed to assert his belief in the falsehood of the accusation during his brief testimony.

The verdict marks a significant turning point in the legal battles between E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump, while also highlighting the ongoing debate around the boundaries of free speech and the responsibility of public figures.