GREENSBORO, N.C. — There's a new twist in Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson's lawsuit against CNN and a Guilford County man who made a music video about him.
Instead of seeking $50 million in damages, Robinson is now asking for $25,000 from each defendant.
While it looks like a major drop off, it's actually just procedural.
WFMY News 2's Nixon Norman spoke to a Greensboro attorney and a rep with Robinson's campaign about the stark difference in numbers.
Robinson still wants to sue CNN and other defendants for $50 million but ultimately it's up to a jury on how much money he will actually see.
Greensboro lawyer Fred Berry said that could mean Robinson walks away with $50 million, nothing, or something in between.
But procedurally, Robinson has to claim that he will sue for $25,000 under state legislature. Berry said this is to protect the defendant.
"I think the mindset is to protect somebody from begin victimized by headline grabbing lawsuits, if there's not legitimacy in the lawsuit. I think it's a reputation protecting device so that somebody isn't perceived as being a great, big evil doer just on allegations," Berry said. "If this case goes to trial, and most cases don't go to trial but if this case goes to trial, it would be up to the jury to decide whether Mark Robinson was entitled to $50 million and they might decide he's entitled to anything… who knows."
Matt Hurley, senior advisor with Robinson's campaign said he has no doubt the jury will hear Robinson and this case out even though he said no amount of money will ever truly fix this situation for Robinson.
"The reality of it is, there is no monetary value that will ever fix this, right? I mean, this is a high-tech lynching designed to affect the outcome of an election. It's not about the money for mark and it wasn't about the money for the people who perpetrated this either. You know, for them, this is a priceless intervention in an election that's you know, going to effect not just the state of North Carolina but potentially the nation for decades to come," Hurley said.
Hurley said in the amended lawsuit there are six new discoveries claiming that CNN did not fully fact check or disclose of certain things, further painting Robinson in a bad light.
"We expect there to be numerous amendments, potentially the addition of new defendants. You know, the investigation is ongoing but the people deserve, the people of North Carolina deserve answers on as much of this as possible prior to Election Day. We are very confident that when the jury sees this additional evidence as well as all the evidence that is to be brought forward during the case, you know, they could end up awarding damages far in excess of the initial $50 million dollars," Hurley said.
Hurley said these new discoveries are directly related to the alleged sexist and racist comments Robinson made on an adult website over a decade ago, alleged comments that were revealed in that CNN report.
