Attorney: Rolling Stone author pushed preconceived narrative

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The reporter of a botched Rolling Stone article about a gang rape at the University of Virginia willfully ignored facts and statements that disproved her preconceived storyline about the school's callousness toward sexual-assault victims, an attorney for the former associate dean of students said in his closing arguments Tuesday.

University administrator Nicole Eramo is seeking $7.5 million from the magazine over its portrayal of her in the 2014 story by Sabrina Rubin Erdely about the alleged sexual assault of a woman identified only as "Jackie."

Eramo claims she was unfairly portrayed in the article as trying to sweep Jackie's sexual assault under the rug to protect the university.

Attorney Tom Clare argued Tuesday that Erdely set out from the beginning to tell a story of "institutional indifference," brushed off statements from her sources that didn't fit that narrative and pushed her own views about the administration onto the vulnerable women she was interviewing.

"Once they decided what the article was going to be about, it didn't matter what the facts were," Clare said.

The story about Jackie's rape set off a firestorm at the University of Virginia and in schools nationwide and prompted police to launch an investigation into the alleged assault.

Eramo received hundreds of angry letters and emails and faced protesters outside her office.

The story crumbled after other news outlets began asking questions and police found no evidence to back Jackie's claims. The article officially was retracted in April 2015.

Eramo must prove Rolling Stone statements about her made her appear "odious, infamous or ridiculous" and the magazine acted with "actual malice," meaning it knew what it was writing about her was false or should have known it was false.

Attorneys for Rolling Stone have said while they no longer believe in Jackie's credibility, they stand by their portrayal of Eramo and the university's handling of sexual-assault cases.

Rolling Stone has agreed to pay all of Erdely's legal costs and any penalties that may be levied against her.

While the women Erdely interviewed -- including Jackie -- told her Eramo was their fiercest advocate, Clare argued Erdely was so invested in her preconceived storyline, she was "blind to the facts."

He argued Erdely purposely set out to make Eramo the "villain" because she knew she was an "easy target" and couldn't speak publicly about Jackie's case due to federal privacy laws.

"It's reckless, it's cavalier, and it's intentional," Clare said.

Over the course of the more than two-week trial, the 10 jurors have watched 11 hours of video testimony, heard from a dozen live witnesses and have examined nearly 300 exhibits.

Seven jurors will deliberate, and three will be named as alternates.