Donald Trump libel case dismissed

CAMDEN, N.J., July 16 (UPI) -- A New Jersey judge said Donald Trump failed to convince her an author's estimate of his net worth at under $250 million was done out of malice.

Author Timothy O'Brien's book, "Trump Nation: The Art of Being Donald," estimated Trump was worth between $150 million and $250 million, The New York Times reported Thursday.

Trump sued, asking for $5 billion in damages. Publicly, Trump has claimed his is worth a far greater than a quarter of a billion dollars.

Superior Court Judge Michele Fox in Camden, N.J., dismissed the case, saying Trump did not present "clear and convincing evidence to establish malice."

Trump complained that "the libel laws in this country have never been fair. We proved our case 100 percent."

He said he would appeal.

O'Brien, an editor at the Sunday Business Section of the New York Times said he was "gratified that the court's decision has vindicated the reporting in 'Trump Nation.'"