http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37879151
Rolling Stone magazine and a journalist have been found guilty of defamation over a false article about a gang rape at the University of Virginia.
The $7.5m (£6m) lawsuit was brought by Nicole Eramo, an associate dean from the university, who said the article had cast her as the "chief villain".
The 2014 article, written by Sabrina Rubin Erdely, included the rape claim of an unidentified female student.
The magazine retracted the article in April 2015, citing inconsistencies.
[...] An investigation by the Charlottesville Police Department had found no evidence that "Jackie" had been gang raped.
[...] The amount [Nicole Eramo] is due in damages will be determined at a later date.
The 10-member federal jury in Charlottesville found that Erdely, the journalist, was responsible for libel with actual malice.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by sjames on Sunday November 06 2016, @06:24PM
Sure, there shouldn't be a stigma, but it's not going to be removed by pretending there isn't one. Perhaps the names of accused rapists should be withheld until a conviction as well since that also carries a lot of stigma that a non-guilty finding or a decision not to prosecute doesn't seem to wash off.