Jesse Ventura wins $1.8M in defamation suit

Jesse Ventura came out on top once again.

The U.S. Navy veteran, actor, former professional wrestler and former governor of Minnesota was awarded $1.8 million in a defamation suit he brought against Chris Kyle, another former Navy SEAL sniper.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports Ventura sued Kyle, who wrote in “American Sniper” that he punched out a “celebrity” SEAL at a bar in 2006 for criticizing the SEALs’ role in the Iraq war. He later identified Ventura in media interviews. Ventura said Kyle fabricated the incident, and his reputation was ruined by Kyle’s account.

Kyle died in 2013, but Ventura continued the suit against his estate.

The jury was split in the case, 8-2, but the judge allowed a non-unanimous verdict if both sides agreed.

Read more from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.