After much deliberation, including a more than two-hour delay on Tuesday, Fox News has settled its defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that the reason the trial was delayed from Monday to Tuesday was for the two parties to work on a last-chance settlement at the behest of Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis.
Ultimately, the two sides were unable to come to an agreement before jury selection began. However, on Tuesday, CNN reporter Marshall Cohen claimed a Fox News lawyer approached a Dominion attorney and pointed to a piece of paper before the two left the courtroom to talk privately.
After a more than two-hour delay, which included lawyers being prepared to give their opening remarks, Davis returned to the courtroom and declared the two sides had settled their case.
“The parties have resolved their case,” Davis said, offering no additional details.
The conclusion of the case ends a longstanding back-and-forth between the cable news outlet and the election machine company. Dominion Voting Systems unveiled several damaging texts and emails sent by Fox News hosts and executives that showed the behind-the-scenes feelings toward now-former President Donald Trump.
Legal experts for other cable networks argued that Fox News was in a dangerous position by preparing to let its leading hosts sit for questioning in front of the jury. Some went as far to claim the network was in serious jeopardy of losing the case.
Dominion Voting Systems sought $1.6 billion in damages after it alleged Fox News deliberately aired falsehoods around the company’s role in a purported plot to rig the 2020 presidential election against Trump.
An attorney for Dominion Voting Systems said the settlement was for $787.5 million. Attorneys and company officials refused to answer questions on whether any other terms, like a retraction or a public apology, were included in the settlement.
“The truth matters. Lies have consequences,” said Dominion’s attorney Justin Nelson.
“We are pleased to have reached a settlement of our dispute with Dominion Voting Systems. We acknowledge the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false,” a Fox News spokesperson told Barrett News Media.
“This settlement reflects FOX’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards. We are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues.”
