After settling the defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems, Fox News acknowledged in a statement that certain claims about Dominion were false. The key rulings in the case determined that all 20 statements mentioned in Dominion’s lawsuit against Fox were proven false. Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis stated that the evidence presented demonstrated that none of the statements about Dominion and the 2020 election were true. The settlement amount reached between Fox News and Dominion amounted to $787.5 million.
Dominion’s co-lead counsel, Justin Nelson, expressed satisfaction with the settlement, stating that it achieved both accountability and compensation for the harm caused to Dominion and its employees. Nelson emphasized the significance of this settlement as the first time that lies about the 2020 election have resulted in consequences. While Fox News anchors are not required to acknowledge the lies on air as part of the settlement, Nelson believes that the outcome sends a strong message to other right-wing outlets involved in ongoing legal disputes with Dominion.
The $787.5 million settlement between Fox News and Dominion is the largest publicly known defamation settlement involving a media company in US history. The previous record was set in 2017 when ABC News paid $177 million in a defamation case. Despite the settlement, Fox News still faces a defamation lawsuit from Smartmatic, another voting technology company.
Fox News issued a statement acknowledging the false information it broadcasted about Dominion while maintaining its commitment to journalistic standards. However, the settlement does not require Fox’s anchors to admit the lies on air. Dominion CEO John Poulos expressed relief that Fox admitted to spreading lies but emphasized that nothing could fully compensate for the damage caused to his company.
The settlement with Fox News could have implications for other right-wing outlets facing legal disputes with Dominion. Smartmatic, which is suing Fox News for $2.7 billion, stated that its pending case would further expose wrongdoing by the network. The settlement represents a victory for truth and accountability, according to Dominion’s counsel, Justin Nelson.
The defamation trial between Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems was expected to go to trial, but the last-minute settlement prevented it from proceeding. The trial was highly anticipated as it would have involved influential Fox News executives and prominent hosts testifying about their election coverage. The settlement also means that Fox News executives and hosts are spared from acknowledging the lies on air.
This settlement marks a significant blow to Fox News and its journalism, according to legal experts. It demonstrates the consequences of spreading lies and reinforces that the truth matters. The case against Fox News has implications for press freedoms and the spreading of disinformation in public discourse.
While the Dominion case is settled, Fox News still faces a defamation lawsuit from Smartmatic. The trial for that case is not expected to take place soon, as it is still in the discovery process. The outcome of the Dominion case may impact the proceedings and potential settlement of the Smartmatic case.
The trial proceedings faced delays and disruptions, including unexplained delays and objections to presentation slides during opening statements. However, the judge has maintained order in the courtroom and warned against violations of protocol, including photography.
The trial now rests on Dominion’s attempt to prove that Fox News acted with “actual malice” when spreading false claims. The jury will consider whether Fox knowingly lied about Dominion and whether the network acted maliciously. The ultimate goal for Dominion is to receive damages amounting to $1.6 billion.
The private text messages and emails disclosed during pre-trial proceedings revealed how Fox News insiders privately criticized Trump and his election lies, despite promoting them on air. These communications underscore the network’s business model, which relies on spinning an alternative reality to keep its audience engaged.
