tonight, a major verdict against the white nationalist who organized and participated in the deadly rally in charlottesville, virginia more than four years ago. a jury in the civil trial holding them accountable for the violence and ordering them to pay millions of dollars in damages. cnn's brian todd explains it all. >> reporter: tonight the jury awarded the plaintiffs in the unite the right trial more than $26 million in punitive damages on several claims. among them, finding five defendants were liable for racial religious or ethnic harassment or violence under a virginia state law and that all the defendants participated in a conspiracy. >> i think this verdict today is a message that this country does not tolerate violence based on racial and religious hatred in any form. >> reporter: in addition, james alex fields jr., the driver of the car that plowed into the crowd of counter protesters were