Smartmatic's Defamation Lawsuit Against Fox Corporation to Proceed

Judge rules Fox Corp. employees may have acted with malice, allows Fox News to pursue counterclaims alleging suppression of free speech.

Smartmatic's defamation lawsuit against Fox Corporation can proceed, according to a ruling by a New York judge.
Fox Corporation had argued that it shouldn't be involved in the defamation case as it only had general oversight of Fox News.
The judge ruled that Smartmatic's case was strong enough to proceed against the parent company because it has 'sufficiently alleged that (Fox) Corp. employees acted with malice by purposely and deliberating publishing knowingly false stories about (Smartmatic) in order to benefit (Fox) Corp.’s financial interest.'
Fox News is allowed to pursue counterclaims that Smartmatic's defamation suit is an attempt to suppress free speech.
Smartmatic sued Fox News and its parent corporation in 2021 for defamation and is seeking more than $2 billion in damages.