What happens next in the Dominion lawsuit against Fox News?
Fox News and its parent company, Fox Corporation, are currently the subject of a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit alleging they deliberately made false claims about Colorado-based company Dominion Voting Systems and its role in the presidential election of 2020.
Opening statements in the case are scheduled for Monday in the US state of Delaware. Dominion is seeking damages for damage to its reputation and business after Fox made false allegations that the voting machine company was involved in widespread election fraud.
What is it about, what do we know so far and what can we expect when the trial starts next week?
What is Dominion arguing about?
Fox News aired false claims that Dominion voting machines were rigged during the 2020 election as part of an attempt to steal the election from former President Donald Trump.
There was no widespread fraud during the 2020 election, but Trump and his supporters used those claims as justification for trying to reverse the election results.
In a defamation lawsuit filed in March 2021, Dominion claimed that Fox knew those claims were false, but continued to emphasize them in their coverage because it was profitable to do so.
Dominion said that Fox “sold a bogus election fraud story to serve its own commercial ends, seriously injuring Dominion”.
In the process, Dominion added, Fox brought the little-known voting machine company to public disgrace, causing damage to its business and harassment against its employees.
What does the Fox say?
Lawyers for the Fox Corporation have opposed those allegations, saying Dominion provided “zero evidence support” to support the allegation that senior executives at the Fox Corporation, Fox News’ parent company, played a role in creating or promoting the the false claims.
“Dominion repeatedly asked Fox News executives, hosts and staff whether Fox Corporation employees played a role in the publication of the statements it disputes,” they wrote. “The answer – every time, for every witness – was no.”
Fox’s legal team has warned that a successful case against it could weaken the distinction between parent companies and subsidiaries.
It has also argued that the Fox News network included Dominion’s perspective in its coverage of the fraud claims, which were inherently newsworthy because they were promoted by attorneys for the then-President of the United States.
In addition, Fox lawyers have expressed concern that Dominion’s case could set a precedent for companies suing news outlets for what they consider unfavorable reporting.
Is Fox News the only company to be sued?
No, Fox News isn’t the only company under legal investigation for allegations about Dominion Voting Systems.
In August 2021, Dominion filed similar defamation lawsuits against right-wing outlets such as One America News Network and Newsmax Media Inc, as well as Patrick Byrne, the founder and former CEO of Overstock.com, for spreading false statements about the voting machine company.
However, the case against Fox has become particularly large and Fox chairman Rupert Murdoch was questioned under oath earlier this year.
According to excerpts of a statement unsealed in February, Murdoch acknowledged that Fox News commentators such as Lou Dobbs, Jeanine Pirro and Sean Hannity had made false allegations of voter fraud.
“Yes. They approved,” Murdoch said.
A previous filing also revealed that some of the network’s biggest stars had privately expressed doubts about the “stolen election story,” even though they emphasized it in their coverage.
What’s the latest in the Fox lawsuit?
Earlier this week, Delaware Supreme Court Justice Eric Davis reprimanded Fox News attorneys after revelations that they may have withheld information and misrepresented Murdoch’s role in the company.
“What should I do with lawyers who are not honest with me?” Davis asked the court, proposing sanctions for the Fox team.
Fox has countered those claims, stating in an email to Al Jazeera that Murdoch “has been listed as the executive chairman of FOX News in our SEC filings for several years, and this filing was referenced during his statement by Dominion’s own attorney.” .”
Davis turned down a request to hold separate trials for Fox News and the Fox Corporation.
Jury selection for the trial began on Thursday. That process is expected to conclude Monday, when lawyers from both sides will make their opening statements to the 12-member panel.
Who will testify in the trial?
The trial is expected to last between five and six weeks and will feature testimony from Murdoch and Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott.
A number of Fox News hosts such as Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Jeanine Pirro are also expected to testify.