A Delaware judge ruled Friday that Dominion Voting System’s defamation lawsuit against Fox News will indeed go to trial.
The election machine company had previously asked the court to make a judgment before the case was presented to a jury. However, Superior Court Judge Eric Davis ruled that a jury would hear the case, rather than make the summary judgment himself. He argued that neither side had presented a convincing enough argument for him to rule on the matter.
While announcing the decision, Davis said it was “crystal clear” that allegations made by attorneys for former President Donald Trump were factually incorrect. Dominion has continually contended that Fox News knowingly shared false statements about the 2020 presidential election.
“Fox knew the truth,” Dominion argued in court documents. “It knew the allegations against Dominion were ‘outlandish’ and ‘crazy’ and ‘ludicrous’ and ‘nuts.’ Yet it used the power and influence of its platform to promote that false story.”
The cable outlet has defended its actions by pointing to the First Amendment.
“Fox will continue to fiercely advocate for the rights of free speech and a free press as we move into the next phase of these proceedings,” the network said in a statement last week.
Davis also ruled that Dominion did not have to prove monetary damages to its business to establish liability by Fox News. Critics of Dominion’s $1.6 billion case have argued that the company only has a valuation of only $60 million.
Barring a settlement between the parties, the trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 17th.
