Judge Sides With Dominion Voting Systems In Ruling That Newsmax Published False And Defamatory Statements About Election Rigging

A Delaware judge ruled that Newsmax made defamatory and false statements about Dominion Voting Systems in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, as personalities and guests amplified claims that the company was involved in rigging the results. Judge Eric M. Davis, however, wrote that a jury would have to decide whether Newsmax was liable to actual malice.

It also will be up to a jury to decide whether Dominion can collect punitive damages, which centers on whether Newsmax engaged in “willful and wanton” conduct. Read the Newsmax ruling . The trial is scheduled to begin on April 28.



Dominion sued Newsmax for $1.6 billion in 2021. Watch on Deadline Newsmax has settled another lawsuit brought by Smartmatic, another election company that also was at the center of false election rigging claims.

According to a regulatory filing tied to its IPO, Newsmax agreed to pay $40 million. In 2023, Fox News reached a settlement with Dominion for $787.5 million, avoiding a trial.

In his summary judgment rulings, Davis also rejected Newsmax’s arguments that it was protected by the fair report privilege and that the statements are non-actionable opinions. More to come..