Jury Returns $536K Libel Verdict Against Boston Herald

A Suffolk Superior Court jury has found that the Boston Herald committed actual malice in a story which falsely reported a woman had engaged in “sexual acts” with a Bridgewater inmate during a 2009 visit.

David H. Rich of Todd & Weld in Boston, who represented Joanna Marinova, said a 15-person jury deliberated for two and half days before awarding $550,000 in emotional distress damages and $13,052 in compensatory damages.