Jury awards $1.1 million to drag performer

COEUR d’ALENE — A jury has awarded more than $1.1 million in damages to the drag performer who sued a blogger for defamation.

The 12-person jury returned a unanimous verdict Friday afternoon, finding that blogger Summer Bushnell defamed Post Falls resident Eric Posey when she published an edited video of him performing in drag at Coeur d'Alene City Park in June 2022 and accused him of exposing himself to the crowd.

Following an investigation by Coeur d’Alene police, city prosecutors declined to file charges and stated publicly that the unedited video showed no exposure.

Jurors awarded Posey a total of $926,000 in damages for defamation. Because Posey proved that Bushnell knew her allegations were false when she made them or that she made the statements with “reckless disregard” for the truth, the jury awarded punitive damages in the amount of $250,000.

“The judicial system did what needed to be done,” Posey said after hearing the verdict. “We still have a lot of work to do in Idaho. We have to stop this hate. Love is kind.”

Outside the courthouse, jurors approached Posey to shake his hand or hug him.

“I’m really glad you got the justice you deserve,” one juror said, embracing Posey.

“I’m so sorry you went through this,” another juror said.

This is a developing story.