Writer E. Jean Carroll is moving to collect $5 million in damages from Donald Trump after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the former president’s appeal. Following the court’s inaction, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan granted Carroll’s request for an expedited payment process, ordering Trump’s legal team to respond to the demand by July 7, 2026.
Why is the payment demand moving to an expedited process?
Carroll’s legal team, led by attorney Roberta Kaplan, filed a motion arguing that the time for delays has passed. According to the court filings, the $5 million jury award from 2023 has grown to a larger sum due to accrued interest. Roberta Kaplan stated in the filing that the defense had “slow-rolled” the payout by consistently asserting or inventing new defenses whenever previous delay tactics failed. Judge Lewis Kaplan’s decision to expedite the response marks a shift in the court’s tolerance for further stalling, effectively signaling that the legal avenues for postponing the judgment have been exhausted.
The original $5 million award was determined by a jury in May 2023, which found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. However, that jury did not find him liable for rape, a specific allegation Carroll had leveled regarding an encounter at a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s.
How did the legal cases against Trump develop?
The current dispute stems from two distinct civil lawsuits filed by the former advice columnist. The first, filed in 2019, followed Trump’s public denials of Carroll’s rape allegations, in which he stated she was “not my type.” A jury later found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The second case, filed in 2022 under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, resulted in an $83.3 million judgment in January 2024. While the Supreme Court has refused to hear the appeal regarding the initial $5 million case, the $83.3 million judgment remains subject to ongoing legal challenges.
What is the defense’s position on the judgments?
Donald Trump has consistently characterized the litigation as “lawfare” and a “fake case.” On Truth Social, he stated his intention to continue fighting what he describes as the “weaponization” of the judicial system. Trump’s legal team has argued throughout the proceedings that both trials were fundamentally flawed because juries were permitted to consider evidence regarding past sexual misconduct allegations. Despite these arguments, federal courts have thus far upheld the jury verdicts.
In high-profile civil litigation, “expedited” status often means that the court has set a strict, shortened timeline for responses—in this instance, requiring a filing from the defense by July 7. This prevents the typical back-and-forth extensions often requested in civil disputes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the total amount Carroll is seeking?
Carroll is seeking the original $5 million award plus interest, which has brought the total to a larger sum. - Has the Supreme Court ruled on both cases?
No. The Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal for the first case, but the second case, which resulted in an $83.3 million award, has not yet been considered by the high court. - What happens if the July 7 deadline is missed?
By ordering an expedited response, Judge Lewis Kaplan has set a firm deadline. Failure to comply could lead to further judicial sanctions or immediate enforcement of the judgment.
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