Jury is seated for defamation trial against Rolling Stone

Associated Press

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.

A jury has been seated in the defamation trial against Rolling Stone over its now discredited story about a gang rape at the University of Virginia.

The jury of eight women and two men was seated Monday. Only seven, to be specified later, will deliberate; three will be alternates.

Opening arguments begin today.

UVA administrator Nicole Eramo wants $7.85 million from the magazine for its portrayal of her in the 2014 story. She claims it portrayed her as the “chief villain.”

It told the harrowing story of a woman identified only as “Jackie,” who claimed she was gang-raped by seven men in a fraternity initiation.

A police investigation found no evidence to back up Jackie’s claims and details in the narrative didn’t hold up under scrutiny by other media.