Overview

• U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday ruled the 85‑page complaint violated Rule 8’s requirement for a short, plain statement.
• He said a civil complaint is not a forum for vituperation or a public‑relations megaphone, criticizing praise of Trump and references to The Apprentice.
• Trump’s suit targets The New York Times, Penguin Random House, and Times journalists Peter Baker, Russ Buettner, Susanne Craig, and Michael Schmidt over articles and the book Lucky Loser.
• The order permits refiling within 28 days with a cleaner complaint limited to 40 pages in the Middle District of Florida.
• The Times called the case unfounded and Penguin Random House defended the book and its authors, as legal commentators questioned the lawsuit’s merit.