Smartmatic defamation lawsuit against Newsmax is headed to trial
A lawsuit filed by voting technology company Smartmatic against Newsmax is moving forward after a judge denied the media organization’s motion to dismiss the case. Smartmatic alleges that Newsmax spread false information about the company’s involvement in the 2020 presidential election, leading to reputational and financial harm.
The lawsuit, filed in February, accuses Newsmax of making defamatory statements about Smartmatic in an effort to boost ratings and cater to supporters of then-President Donald Trump. Smartmatic claims that Newsmax’s coverage contributed to the spread of election misinformation and conspiracy theories.
Newsmax had sought to have the lawsuit dismissed, arguing that its coverage was protected by the First Amendment and that Smartmatic had failed to prove actual malice. However, a judge in Delaware ruled that Smartmatic had presented sufficient evidence to proceed with its case against Newsmax.
The lawsuit is part of a broader legal battle between Smartmatic and several media outlets, including Fox News and One America News Network. Smartmatic has accused these organizations of participating in a disinformation campaign that sought to undermine the integrity of the election.
Smartmatic is seeking damages from Newsmax for the harm caused by the allegedly defamatory statements. The case is scheduled to go to trial, where a jury will ultimately decide whether Newsmax is liable for defamation.
Newsmax has not commented publicly on the judge’s decision to allow the lawsuit to proceed. The media organization is expected to vigorously defend its coverage of the election and its reporting on Smartmatic’s involvement in voting technology.
Original Story at news.google.com – 2024-09-13 19:06:00
