In a surprise to many watching the outcome of a major defamation case with national implications, Fox News agreed to pay $787.5 million in a settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, avoiding a drawn-out trial after airing false claims about the 2020 election and voting systems.
The settlement agreement, among the largest defamation settlements in history, underlines the high-profile acknowledgement of informational wrongdoing by the conservative media powerhouse.
“Money is accountability,” Dominion lawyer Stephen Shackelford told reporters with The New York Times, “We got that today from Fox.”
The media giant’s legal troubles related to the 2020 presidential election, however, are far from over. Fox News still faces a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit filed by another voting technology company, Smartmatic.
In a nearly 300-page complaint filed in New York State Supreme Court in February 2021, Smartmatic alleged Fox News knowingly made “over 100 false statements and implications” about the company, amplifying false information from former president Donald Trump and his allies that Smartmatic played a role in his election loss. In February, a New York appeals court ruled that the case was allowed to proceed.
“Dominion’s litigation exposed some of the misconduct and damage caused by Fox’s disinformation campaign. Smartmatic will expose the rest,” Smartmatic attorney J. Erik Connolly said in a Washington Post report. “Smartmatic remains committed to clearing its name, recouping the significant damage done to the company, and holding Fox accountable for undermining democracy.”
In other headlines:
CP NEWS: Andrews launches group pushing for better future for children. Dr. Annie Andrews, the 2022 Democratic nominee for Congress in South Carolina’s First Congressional District, has launched a new organization to push for policies that prioritize the interests and well-being of America’s children.
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S.C. cities have some of the cleanest air in the region. Charleston isn’t one of them. About 1 in 4 people in the United States – more than 119 million residents – live with air pollution that can hurt their health and shorten their lives, and people of color are disproportionately affected, according to a new report from the American Lung Association.
Boeing’s production issues continue into spring, summer. Boeing’s latest setback with production issues means airlines will have fewer planes than expected to handle big crowds of travelers this summer.
Charleston port’s cargo levels hit 2-year low. Imports expected to rebound. Cargo moving through the Port of Charleston hit a two-year low in March as consumer worries about inflation continued to dent imports. But the port could see a boost in imports thanks to a labor strike in southern California.
Charleston police move forward on final recommendation on racial bias audit. The Charleston Police Department has announced they have brought on an independent team to look over its progress in its racial bias audit.
- To get dozens of South Carolina news stories every business day, contact the folks at SC Clips.
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