A legal battle between Fox News and Dominion, a voting machine company that accuses the network of knowingly spreading misinformation about the 2020 presidential election results began on Tuesday, only to be settled a few hours later, averting a trial.
In a news conference, Dominion lawyer Justin Nelson said Fox agreed to pay $787.5 million in damages.
“The truth matters, lies have consequences,” Mr Nelson said. "Money is accountability and we got that today from Fox."
The development settles a $1.6bn defamation case filed by Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News, America's most popular cable news network, sought to hold it to account after presenters repeatedly said voting machines were rigged in favour of Democrat Joe Biden over then-president Donald Trump.
After the announcement, Fox issued a statement saying it was "pleased to have reached a settlement".
"We acknowledge the court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false. This settlement reflects Fox’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards," the statement said.
"We are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues.”
The civil trial comes more than two years after Dominion first accused Fox of “intentionally and falsely” airing misinformation about the company to appeal to its conservative viewers.
Mr Trump continues to insist that the 2020 election was stolen from him, and that he was the winner.
Without evidence, he and his supporters continue to spout fraud conspiracy theories about how the votes were tallied. Such claims have been debunked.
Fox had argued that its statements about Dominion are protected by the First Amendment under the US Constitution, which protects freedom of speech.
Fox said its claims on air, many of which were made by well-known newscasters and commentators, were not intentional and had no “actual malice” — a crucial requirement to meet the legal definition for defamation.
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
List of alleged parties
May 15 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at
least 17 staff members
May 20 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'bring your own booze'
party
Nov 27 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary
Gavin Williamson
Dec 13 2020: PM and Carrie throw a flat party
Dec 14 2020: London mayor candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative
Party headquarters
Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
