18 April 2023 , 21:37
631
0
Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch's business empire settled the "defamation trial of the century" at a cost of £634million just moments before it was scheduled to begin.
The deal reportedly cost Mr Murdoch hundreds of millions of dollars. However, it did stop his star presenters from being forced to take the stand.
Dominion Voting Systems had sued Australian's Fox News, claiming it damaged its reputation by repeatedly airing conspiracy theories about its machine - that the equipment was switching votes from former President Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden.
It claimed many of the channel’s star presenters falsely accused the company of helping orchestrate a fraud that cost former President Donald Trump re-election in 2020.
Rupert Murdoch is said to have a reached a $787.5 million settlement with Dominion (AP)However, Dominion's lawsuit was being closely watched by another voting-technology company with a separate, but similar case, against Fox News.
Boris Johnson attacks Rishi Sunak's failure to send fighter jets to Ukraine
Florida-based firm Smartmatic has looked into some rulings and evidence in the Dominion case to try and enhance its own $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit in New York.
The Smartmatic case isn't ready for trial, but has survived Fox News' attempts to have it thrown out.
Witnesses in the Dominion case were expected to include not just Mr Murdoch himself, but his son Lachlan and a whole host of Fox News personalities; both past and present.
In fact, with opening statements taking place on Tuesday, April 18, lawyers for Fox revealed some of its defense exhibits - including Homer Simpson himself.
File photo dated 24/02/13 of Rupert Murdoch who has paid millions to settle his lawsuit with Dominion (PA)
Clips from The Simpsons were set to be played in court in the Fox/Dominion case (CR: FOX)Four separate clips were included from The Simpsons. They all showed Homer Simpson voting in Presidential elections.
In 'Treehouse of Horror XIX' - Homer votes for Obama. 'Homer Votes 2012' sees the beer-drinking dad vote for Mitt Romney. In 'Homer Votes 2016' Putin tries to convince Homer to vote for Donald Trump, and 'Treehouse of Horror XXXI' shows Homer being indecisive when choosing between Biden and Trump.
The agreement came hours after Judge Davis authorised a special master to investigate Fox News relating to its handling of discovery, an issue he had raised at an earlier hearing.
As jurors took their seats to hear opening arguments, the justice failed to appear for almost three hours as discussions took place outside the court.
A truck with a digital sign saying, 'Rupert Murdoch KNEW' drives past the Leonard Williams Justice Center (Getty Images)When he returned just after 4pm local time, the panel of 12 men and women were told: "The parties have resolved the case."
An attorney for Dominion said the settlement was $787.5million.
Boy, 11, dragged from bike and has scalp ripped off in attack by three pit bulls
"The truth matters. Lies have consequences," lawyer Justin Nelson said in a news conference outside the courthouse following the announcement.
In a statement from Fox News shortly after the announcement, the network acknowledged "the court's rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false".
The resolution, announced in Delaware Superior Court, follows a recent summary judgment ruling by Judge Eric Davis - in which he allowed the case to go to trial, emphasising it was "CRYSTAL clear" that none of the allegations about Dominion aired on Fox by Trump allies were true.