Judge dismisses Trump's suit against The New York Times

A federal judge in Florida on Friday threw out President Donald Trump's defamation suit against The New York Times four days after it was filed, calling the complaint “improper and impermissible” in its present form.

- MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM

People walk by The New York Times building in New York City on Sept 16.

(REUTERS)

The judge provided Trump's lawyers with 28 days to file an amended complaint.

The lawsuit, which asked for $15 billion in damages, accused the Times and four of its reporters, as well as book publisher Penguin Random House, of disparaging Trump's reputation as a successful businessperson.

But Judge Steven D. Merryday, of the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida, said the president's 85-page complaint was unnecessarily lengthy and digressive. He criticised Trump's lawyers for waiting until the 80th page to lodge a formal allegation of defamation, and for including, ahead of it, dozens of “florid and enervating” pages lavishing praise on the president and enumerating a range of grievances.

“A complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective,” Mr Merryday wrote. “Not a protected platform to rage against an adversary.”

He said any revised complaint must be limited to 40 pages.