On Tuesday, April 18, 2023 Fox News settled a defἀmation complaint with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million. On Wednesday, April 19, a Fox spokesperson said the network is “ready to défend” itself from a similar suit brought by another voting system company.
Smartmatic published a statement reiterating its commitment to its own action in the aftermath of the historic Dominion settlement adding:
“Dominion’s litigation exposed some of the misc0nduct and dἀmage caused by Fox’s disinformation campaign. The rest will be revealed by Smartmatic.”
The below statement is said by Smartmatic’s attorney J. Erik Connolly:
“Smartmatic remains committed to clearing its name, recouping the significant damage done to the company in more than 50 countries and holding Fox accountable for undermining democracy.”
Fox released a statement on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 saying:
“We will be ready to défend this case around extraordinarily significant events when it goes to trial, possibly in 2025. Our financial expert’s assessment demonstrates that Smartmatic’s dἀmage claims are baseless, unrealistic and obviously designed to stifle protected speech”.
Smartmatic based in Florida is suing Fox News, Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Fox personalities Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro for a combined $2.7 billion. In February of 2021, the lawsuit was initiated.
At least seven defἀmation cases stemming from comments made on Fox News or Dominion Voting Systems’ airwaves in the run-up to the 2020 election continue to be active.
Dominion is also suing the right-wing network Newsmax, as well as former Trump attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell among others in a total of six separate defamation lawsuits. After the settlement with Fox News, Dominion’s attorney Stephen Shakelford said:
“We’ve got some other people who have some accountability coming towards them, We’re not done yet.”
In an effort to counteract worries over dwindling ratings and viewer retention, Dominion has accused the conservative network of deliberately spreading fake conspiracy theories that Dominion had rigged the 2020 presidential election in Joe Biden’s favor.
Fox denied any wrongdoing saying it was merely reporting on newsworthy ἀccusations made by then-President Donald Trump and his associates, an explanation they reiterated in a statement about the Smartmatic complaint in response to Dominion’s ἀllegations.
But in a pre-trial judgment, Dominion case overseer Judge Eric Davis largely shut down that claim saying that it fails to shield. Fox from accountability and that the court will not apply the privilege here.
Davis stated in court as the Dominion case was being discussed. The fact that something is noteworthy is no excuse for slander. This Monday, Fox News filed a response in the case in which it denies the ἀllegation of a disinformation campaign.”
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