A Delaware judge’s decision on Friday paves the way for Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit against Fox News to proceed to a high-stakes jury trial starting in mid-April. The ruling deals a significant blow to Fox News by dismantling several of its key defenses.
The trial is expected to feature top network executives and prominent hosts testifying about their promotion of false claims regarding the 2020 election. Despite both sides seeking a pretrial win, Judge Eric Davis determined that the case should proceed to trial, excluding the question of the truthfulness of Fox’s statements about Dominion. Unless settled out-of-court, jurors will weigh whether Fox News’ repeated airing of debunked election rigging allegations defamed Dominion, which is seeking $1.6 billion in damages.
Fox maintains its broadcasts were protected under the First Amendment, focusing on newsworthy allegations. However, Davis’ ruling rejects crucial defenses like the ‘neutral report’ and ‘fair report’ privileges, potentially complicating Fox’s defense strategy. Dominion welcomed the ruling, while incriminating texts and emails revealed during the case have already tarnished Fox’s reputation.
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