By Zachariah Joseph
@ZachJ07
On late April 2023, Fox News and its parent company Fox Corp. reached a settlement agreement with Dominion Voting Systems in a defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed after Fox News made false claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election against Dominion, causing damage to the company’s reputation.
The settlement amount is $787.5 million, about half of Dominion’s original $1.6 billion claim. The settlement was announced by Judge Eric Davis of the Delaware Superior Court, just before the trial was due to begin.
It also reflects Fox’s acknowledgment that the claims it made about Dominion were false. The company has apologized for its actions and reaffirmed its commitment to the highest journalistic standards. Dominion CEO John Poulos welcomed the settlement as a vindication of the company’s position and a step towards restoring its good name.
Additionally, it helps to avoid the divisive nature of a trial and allows the country to move forward from these issues. The legal clash centered on the issue of falsity.
To win a defamation case, it must be proven that the statements made were false and made with actual malice. In a pretrial ruling, the judge found that Dominion had proven that all 20 statements made by Fox News were false. The settlement came late on 4/18/23, with the papers being signed just minutes before the announcement.
Prior to the settlement, Dominion lawyers had been preparing opening statements, even during a courtroom delay after the lunch recess. The settlement agreement marks the end of a high-profile legal battle and highlights the importance of truthful reporting in the media, which is essential for democracy.
