You can listen to this special edition of the DansDeals podcast on YouTube here, on Spotify here, on Apple here, or on 24Six here.
In September 2013, I started Law School at the University of Pennsylvania. Just a few weeks later, Dan stole me away and I started what’s been 12 awesome years working at DansDeals.
But, I still love law. I have served on a Florida Bar committee for years, and this past month, I got to participate in a massive case against CNN.
My brother-in-law (and DansDeals Forums member) Velvel Freedman got a perfect 180 on his LSAT, started his career at Boise Schiller & Flexner, scored the highest BAR admissions test in Florida, and more recently opened his own law firm, which now has over 25 lawyers.
A few years ago, he won a $100,000,000+ verdict in a Bitcoin case, which led Navy Veteran Zachary Young to call him about his own case. The case went to trial and has been covered by media outlets across the US.
Dan and I sat down with Velvel at his law firm in Miami last week to discuss his historic victory over CNN, with the jury awarding punitive damages for malice against Mr. Young. That’s the first such verdict against a mainstream media company in over half a century. The case was settled for a confidential figure before the jury settled on a number for punitive damages.
The trial took place in Panama City Beach, Florida, earlier this month over a two-week period. I flew up to help the team prepare the day before the trial, and thanks to media outlets streaming the trial, I was able to give live feedback and fact-check witness testimonies while the trial was happening.
MAZEL TOV to my brother-in-law @VelvelFreedman on winning a HUGE case against CNN for defaming his client Zachary Young.
From his incredible Kiddush Hashem leaving the courtroom early last week on Friday for Shabbos to his outstanding closing yesterday, he is an inspiration.… pic.twitter.com/7ImxLTDJ2s
— DansDeals (@DansDeals) January 17, 2025
The case was discussed on DDF here, with veteran member YitzyS calling Velvel’s closing arguments a masterpiece:
You can watch our Podcast below to learn more and enjoy what I thought was a fascinating coversation about the case. DDF members asked some great questions that we talked through, and there’s incredible insight into the mind of Velvel and how he won the case against CNN:
You can also listen on Spotify here, on Apple here, or on 24Six here.
You can also watch Megyn Kelly’s recent podcast with Velvel and Zachary here.
What subjects do you want to hear about on a DansDeals podcast in the future? Do you prefer shorter or longer form podcasts? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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10 Comments On "How CNN Got Crushed By Velvel Freedman For Smearing Navy Veteran Zachary Young, A DansDeals Podcast Special"
All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.
Would love for the podcast to focus on CC and miles.
We shot an episode on those topics in December, but had some technical difficulties. Hopefully, we’ll get those up soon.
Frankly, I’d love to hear more discussions on topics on the fringes of what Dansdeals deals with.
This is a great topic, and continues to take Dansdeals out of the typecast of being exclusively points and credit cards obsessed.
We aren’t dealing with a couple of math nerds who have no life experience other than “beating the system”. The Dansdeals team is a well rounded, well traveled team with a lot of life experience worth hearing from.
Personally, I’d recommend staying away from the really hot button issues (politics, religion, inter-chassidus and inter-Klal Yisroel debates etc), but a little foray into these topics occasionally would probably be appreciated too.
Thanks for the feedback!
Always open to topic suggestions, clearly there are a lot of directions we can go with this.
Loved this. It felt like behind the scenes in a John Grisham novel. Even the placement of the trial in the Florida panhandle. So fascinating to hear all the details. I also loved the ending talking about how it’s Hashem who decides how much one is going to make. Thank you for this.
Glad you enjoyed!
We had a fun time with this one!
I’m here for Dans DEALS. Not Dans political opinions.
In an age where everyone is overloaded with politics – I’d like to visit a site where it has one strong (as advertised in your name) purpose.
There’s nothing political here.
A network was found guilty of defamation and malice. We discussed how that went down behind the scenes
Great podcast.
Two comments:
At 27:56 JJ says “I’m sure their egos a bruised”.
Notwithstanding my occasional name calling of the “Pravda Editorial Board”, I think JJ (and others, as evidenced by the responses and reactions to the November election loss) doesn’t properly understand and appreciate Bolshevik mindset. They have no regard for the truth or for human lives, that can only go along with the inability to have any shame, hence they don’t even know why you might suggest that their egos were bruised. They were valiantly doing there job, and were undermined by a bunch of redneck misfits.
At the end Velvel says “at the end of the day, it’s all [Hashem]”.
While that is a true statement, and the beauty of being self-employed, being able to see that in a very material way, it is not only “at the end of the day” but actually also at START OF EACH DAY. (Rabbi Stillerman who recently passed away was told that the Rebbe’s favorite “piece of Davening” is Modeh Ani at the beginning of each day).
Masterful lawyering!
Bonus to see (during Megan Kelly’s podcast) a painting on his office wall of the Rebbe & Frierdiker Rebbe playing chess for all to see. Kiddush Hashem.