Fox News, a well-known American news channel, and former host Lou Dobbs have countered a lawsuit of $250 million filed against them by Venezuelan businessman Majed Khalil, claiming that Khalil’s links to cocaine trafficking and international terrorism should be enough to dismiss the defamation claims. According to newly filed counterclaims by Kirkland & Ellis attorneys, the alleged past criminal record of Khalil is sufficient to justify the dismissal.
Kirkland & Ellis attorneys stated that their defense is backed by news reports and added that Fox News and Fox Corporation fall under New York’s Anti-SLAPP law protection, which makes them protected from any defamation claims filed against them. Fox News states that the plaintiff’s suit, filed against them in December 2021, should be dismissed under the Anti-SLAPP law.
Khalil has filed a lawsuit against Fox News and Lou Dobbs, claiming that he has suffered severe damages from the report filed by the news channel and Dobbs regarding the 2020 US presidential election. The report, which was broadcasted nationally, falsely claimed that Khalil’s company, Smartmatic, rigged the US presidential election with the help of Dominion Voting Systems. Khalil claims that his reputation has been severely damaged as a result of the report.
Khalil’s company, Smartmatic, which provides electronic voting systems, has stirred up controversies over the years in various countries. Fox News claims that the latest Defamation lawsuit filed against them is solely motivated by Khalil’s intention to suppress their freedom of speech.
New York’s Anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) Law aims to prevent individuals or organizations from using lawsuits as a means of suppressing free speech. The law provides legal protection for media channels, either print or digital, including broadcasters, with the aim of defending them from litigation brought on by the depiction of public figures or government officials.
In conclusion, the defense’s claim that Khalil’s alleged links to cocaine trafficking and international terrorism are enough to justify the dismissal of his defamation case still hangs in the balance. It can be concluded that Fox News is relying on New York’s Anti-SLAPP law to defend itself from the $250 million suit filed against it by Majed Khalil.
Original Story at www.law.com – 2022-11-01 07:00:00