Did the Dutchess County jury find Maddox liable for making any statements?
Yes. The jury found that Maddox had defamed Crist by claiming that his death was a homicide. Truth is a defense in a defamation case even though the presiding trial judge, S. Barrett Hickman, initially ruled that truth was no defense. The autopsy report stated that another person killed Crist. Also, neither a dead man nor his estate can sue for defamation. Maddox pointed this out to the judge but he ruled that the jury could find Maddox liable for defaming Crist and William Grady, the District Attorney or Dutchess County, who never sued Maddox . According to Justice Hickman, Pagones could collect the damages.
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- Did the Dutchess County jury find Maddox liable for making any statements?
