{"id":239,"date":"2021-06-01T16:35:16","date_gmt":"2021-06-01T16:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/?page_id=239"},"modified":"2024-06-11T19:32:02","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T19:32:02","slug":"defamation-lawsuits-filed-by-voting-machine-manufacturers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/defamation-lawsuits-filed-by-voting-machine-manufacturers\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Defamation Lawsuits Filed by Voting Machine Manufacturers and a Former Employee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">(with 6 Counterclaims)<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><sup><em>Last updated June 11, 2024 <\/em><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column topicbox has-amf-tan-to-tan-accent-gradient-background has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center topiclist\">Quick Facts:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>In the 2020 election, Dominion Voting Systems products were used in an estimated 24 states, while Smartmatic was only used in California\u2019s Los Angeles County.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dominion and Smartmatic sued Trump allies and conservative media outlets for defamation following the 2020 election, for damages ranging from $1 billion to $2.7 billion.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Defendants in the lawsuits claimed Dominion and Smartmatic shared ownership and had ties to the late Hugo Chavez, former President of Venezuela.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A former Dominion employee sued the Trump campaign, Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Lindell, and conservative media outlets for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy for claiming he told Antifa he would manipulate the election.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In response to retraction demands, Fox News and Newsmax debunked conspiracy theories about Smartmatic and Dominion on the air in December 2020. Newsmax also apologized to the Dominion employee in April 2021.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>On April 18, 2023, Fox News and Dominion settled their defamation lawsuit with Fox agreeing to pay $787.5 million in damages. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The remaining cases appear to be active as of August 3, 2023.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"557\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/voting-machines-1024x557.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/voting-machines-1024x557.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/voting-machines-300x163.jpg 300w, https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/voting-machines-768x418.jpg 768w, https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/voting-machines-1536x835.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/voting-machines-2048x1114.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">grmarc\/Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit1\">Eric Coomer v. Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., Sidney Powell, Rudolph Giuliani, et al.<\/a> (12\/22\/2020)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit2\">Dominion v. Sidney Powell<\/a> (1\/8\/2021) &amp; Powell&#8217;s Counterclaim<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit3\">Dominion v. Rudy Giuliani<\/a> (1\/25\/2021)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit4\">Smartmatic v. Fox Corporation, Fox News Network LLC, Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro, Rudolph Giuliani, and Sidney Powell<\/a> (2\/4\/2021) &amp; Fox&#8217;s Counterclaim<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit5\">Dominion v. My Pillow and Mike Lindell<\/a> (2\/22\/2021) &amp; Two Counterclaims<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit6\">Dominion v. Fox News Networks, LLC<\/a> (3\/26\/2021)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit7\">Dominion v. Newsmax Media, Inc.<\/a> (8\/10\/2021)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit8\">Dominion v. Herring Networks Inc. (owner of One America News Network), Charles Herring, Robert Herring, Chanel Rion, and Christina Bobb<\/a> (8\/10\/2021) &amp; Herring Networks&#8217; Counterclaim<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit9\">Dominion v. Patrick Byrne (former CEO of Overstock)<\/a> (8\/10\/2021)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit10\">Smartmatic v. Newsmax Media, Inc.<\/a> (11\/3\/2021) &amp; Newsmax&#8217;s Counterclaim<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit11\" data-type=\"internal\">Smartmatic v. Herring Networks Inc., owner of One America News Network<\/a>&nbsp;(11\/3\/2021)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit12\" data-type=\"internal\">Dominion v. Fox Corporation and Fox Broadcasting, LLC<\/a> (11\/8\/2021)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit13\">Eric Coomer v. Salem Media of Colorado Inc. and Randy Corporon<\/a> (11\/13\/2021)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit14\">Eric Coomer v. Make Your Life Epic LLC dba Thrivetime Show and Clayton Thomas Clark<\/a> (12\/22\/2021)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit15\">Smartmatic v. Mike Lindell and My Pillow, Inc.<\/a> (1\/18\/2022)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#lawsuit16\">Eric Coomer v. Michael J. Lindell, Frankspeech LLC, and My Pillow, Inc.<\/a> (4\/4\/2022)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Below the lawsuit details is some <a href=\"#context\">additional context<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit1\">1. <em>Eric Coomer v. Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., Sidney Powell, Rudolph Giuliani, et al.<\/em> (2020CV34319)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A. <br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>12\/22\/2020<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Coomer-v-Trump-for-President-12222020.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 12\/22\/2020 by former Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer against the defendants Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., Sidney Powell, Sidney Powell P.C., Rudolph Giuliani, Joseph Oltmann, FEC United, Shuffling Madness Media, Inc., dba Conservative Daily, James Hoft, TGP Communications LLC dba The Gateway Pundit, Michelle Malkin, Eric Tetaxas, Chanel Rion, Herring Networks, Inc. dba One America News Network, and Newsmax Media, Inc., in the Denver District Court.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201c[T]his case is based on Defendants\u2019 false and baseless assertions that Dr. Coomer, an employee of Dominion Voting Systems, Inc. (Dominion), sits at the center of a national conspiracy to fraudulently elect the President of the United States. Defendants, by their actions, have elevated Dr. Coomer into the national spotlight, invaded his privacy, threatened his security, and fundamentally defamed his reputation across this country.\u201d<br><br><strong>Causes of Action<\/strong><br>A. Defamation Against All Defendants<br>B. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Against All Defendants<br>C. Civil Conspiracy Against All Defendants<br>D. Preliminary and Permanent Injunction<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cThe deluge of misinformation has caused immense injury to Dr.Coomer\u2019s reputation, professional standing, safety, and privacy. Once an esteemed private election technology expert, Dr. Coomer has been vilified and subjected to an onslaught of offensive messages and harassment. In response to multiple credible death threats, Dr. Coomer has been forced to leave his home in fear for his safety.\u201d<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>\u201cPreliminary and permanent injunctive relief enjoining Defendants\u2026 from threatening or encouraging acts of violence, intimidation, or coercion against Dr. Coomer; Permanent injunctive relief requiring Defendants and their officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys to remove any and all defamatory publications made about Dr. Coomer; Actual and special damages against Defendants in an amount to be proven at trial; Attorney\u2019s fees and costs.\u201d<\/td><td>Newsmax was dropped from the suit in April 2021 following an apology and on-air statement stating that Newsmax had found no evidence of the accusations against Coomer being true.<br><br>All remaining defendants filed motions to dismiss pursuant to C.R.S. \u00a713-20-1101 (\u201cAnti-SLAPP motions\u201d).<br><br>District Court Judge Marie Avery Moses <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Coomer-v-Trump-Motion-to-Dismiss-denied.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">denied the motions to dismiss<\/a> on 5\/13\/2022.<br><br>On 4\/11\/2024, a three judge panel for the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that Eric Coomer could proceed with this lawsuit, concluding that, &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2024-22ca0843.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the plaintiff has established a reasonable likelihood of success<\/a> on his claims for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress arising out of statements by various defendants.&#8221; <\/td><td>As far as we know, the case was still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit2\">2. <em>Dominion v. Sidney Powell, et al.<\/em> (1:21-cv-00040)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A. <br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1\/8\/2021<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Dominion-V-Powell-01082021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 1\/8\/2021 by Dominion Voting Systems against the defendant Sidney Powell and others in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201cDuring a Washington, D.C. press conference, a Georgia political rally, and a media blitz, Powell falsely claimed that Dominion had rigged the election, that Dominion was created in Venezuela to rig elections for Hugo Ch\u00e1vez, and that Dominion bribed Georgia officials for a no-bid contract \u2026 Powell\u2019s wild accusations are demonstrably false.\u201d<br><br><strong>Complaint<\/strong><br>Count One &#8211; Defamation Per Se<br>Count Two &#8211; Deceptive Trade Practices<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cDominion employees have been stalked, have been harassed, and have received death threats; Dominion has been forced to make an expenditure of money to remedy the defamation [more than $1,170,000] and to protect the lives of its employees [$565,000]; Dominion has lost profits [projected $200 million over the next five years]; and Dominion\u2019s reputation has been irreparably damaged.\u201d<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>Dominion asked for an estimated $1.3 billion in damages, including compensatory damages of not less than $651,735,000 and punitive damages of not less than $651,735,000.<\/td><td>The defendant filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Powell-Motion-to-Dismiss-Dominion-032221.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">motion to dismiss<\/a> the initial complaint on 3\/22\/2021. (The judge granted a motion for extension of time to answer on 2\/10\/2021.)<br><br><strong>Summary<\/strong><br>Lawyers for Powell filed a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction or improper venue, or for failure to state a claim. Otherwise, they asked to transfer the case to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, where Powell lives.<br><br>The motion stated that \u201cno reasonable person would conclude that the statements were truly statements of fact \u2026 it was clear to reasonable persons that Powell\u2019s claims were her opinions and legal theories on a matter of utmost public concern.\u201d<br><br>Judge Carl J. Nichols in the US District Court for the District of Columbia <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Judge-Nichols-Denied-Motion-to-Dismiss-11Aug21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">denied the Defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss <\/a>in full on 8\/11\/2021.<br><br>[<strong>Note:<\/strong> Powell filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Powell-Dominion-Countersuit-25Sep21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">counterclaim against Dominion<\/a> on 9\/24\/2021 seeking no less than $10 million in damages. On 9\/28\/2022, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/powell-counterclaim-dismissed-28Sep2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">granted<\/a> Dominion&#8217;s motion to dismiss the counterclaim, stating that &#8220;Powell&#8217;s complaint fails to link her abuse-of-process claim to any act that Dominion has taken other than filing and pursuing its lawsuit.&#8221;]<\/td><td>The case was still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_1');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_1');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[1]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_1\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>US Dominion, Inc. v. Powell <\/em>(1:21-cv-00040),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024)<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br>An <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Updated-Scheduling-Order-2-3-5.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amended Scheduling Order<\/a> was signed on 7\/24\/2023 with an in-person Status Conference scheduled for 10\/17\/2024.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit3\">3. <em>Dominion v. Rudy Giuliani <\/em>(1:21-cv-00213)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1\/25\/2021<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Dominion-V-Giuliani-01252021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 1\/25\/2021 by Dominion Voting Systems against the defendant Rudy Giuliani in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201cAlthough he was unwilling to make false election fraud claims about Dominion and its voting machines in a court of law because he knew those allegations are false, he and his allies manufactured and disseminated the \u2018Big Lie,\u2019 which foreseeably went viral and deceived millions of people into believing that Dominion had stolen their votes and fixed the election \u2026<br><br>Acting in concert with allies and media outlets that were determined to promote a false preconceived narrative about the 2020 election, Giuliani launched a viral disinformation campaign about Dominion that reached millions of people and caused enormous harm to Dominion.\u201d<br><br><strong>Complaint<\/strong><br>Count One &#8211; Defamation Per Se<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cDominion employees have been stalked, have been harassed, and have received death threats; Dominion has been forced to make an expenditure of money to remedy the defamation [more than $1,170,000] and to protect the lives of its employees [more than $565,000]; Dominion has lost profits [estimated $200 million over the next five years]; and Dominion\u2019s reputation has been irreparably damaged.\u201d<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>Dominion asked for an estimated $1.3 billion in damages, including compensatory damages of not less than $651,735,000 and punitive damages of not less than $651,735,000.<\/td><td>The defendant filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Dominion-V-Giuliani-Motion-Dismiss-04072021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">motion to dismiss<\/a> the original complaint on 4\/7\/2021: \u201cGiuliani denies that he has defamed Plaintiffs or that he has engaged in any wrongful or malicious conduct toward Plaintiffs \u2026 However \u2026 because Plaintiffs have not sufficiently pleaded subject matter jurisdiction, have failed to state a claim, and have failed to properly and adequately plead special damages, the Complaint must be dismissed.\u201d <br><br><strong>Ruling on Motion to Dismiss<br><\/strong>Judge Carl J. Nichols in the US District Court for the District of Columbia <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Judge-Nichols-Denied-Motion-to-Dismiss-11Aug21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">denied the Defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss <\/a>in full on 8\/11\/2021.<\/td><td>The case was still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_2');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_2');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[2]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_2\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>US Dominion, Inc. v. Giuliani<\/em> (1:21-cv-00213),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024)<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br>An <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Updated-Scheduling-Order-2-3-5.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amended Scheduling Order<\/a> was signed on 7\/24\/2023 with an in-person Status Conference scheduled for 10\/17\/2024.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit4\">4. <em>Smartmatic v. Fox Corporation, Fox News Network LLC, Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro, Rudolph Giuliani, and Sidney Powell<\/em> (151136\/2021)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>2\/4\/2021<\/td><td>The <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Smartmatic-v-Fox-02042021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 2\/4\/2021 by Smartmatic against the defendants Fox Corporation, Fox News Network LLC, Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro, Rudolph Giuliani, and Sidney Powell in the Supreme Court of the State of New York.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>According to the complaint, the defendants falsely claimed that \u201cSmartmatic was a Venezuelan company under the control of corrupt dictators from socialist countries,\u201d that the Smartmatic \u201celection technology and software were used in many of the states with close outcomes,\u201d and that \u201cSmartmatic was responsible for stealing the 2020 election by switching and altering votes to rig the election for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.\u201d<br><br>Smartmatic identified 13 reports broadcast by Fox News in November and December 2020 alleging that Smartmatic had contributed to rigging or stealing the 2020 election. The stories were repeated in Fox News online articles and social media posts.<br><br><strong>Causes of Action<\/strong><br>The complaint lists nine causes of action related to defamation for false statements and implications, and seven causes of action related to disparagement for false statements and implications.<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cMillions of individuals who saw and read Defendants\u2019 reports believed them to be true. Smartmatic and its officers began to receive hate mail and death threats. Smartmatic\u2019s clients and potential clients began to panic. The company\u2019s reputation for providing transparent, auditable, and secure election technology and software was irreparably harmed. Overnight, Smartmatic went from an under-the-radar election technology and software company with a track record of success to the villain in Defendants\u2019 disinformation campaign.\u201d<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>Smartmatic asked for actual, consequential and special damages in an amount to be determined at trial, but no less than $ 2.7 billion, as well as compensatory and punitive damages.<\/td><td>Fox Corporation and Fox News Network, LLC, filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Smartmatic-V-Fox-Motion-to-Dismiss-02082021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">motion to dismiss<\/a> the original complaint on 2\/8\/2021.<br><br><strong>Summary<\/strong><br>Lawyers for Fox Corporation and Fox News Network, LLC, filed a motion to dismiss because \u201ccore First Amendment principles, together with New York\u2019s anti-SLAPP [strategic lawsuits against public participation] law, compel the conclusion that Smartmatic\u2019s claims against Fox must be dismissed.\u201d<br><br>The motion stated that \u201ca reasonable viewer would readily have understood that Fox was not covering those allegations because it was confident they were true; it was covering them because it was confident they were newsworthy\u2014as was virtually every other press outlet in the country.\u201d<br><br><strong>Motions to Dismiss from Other Defendants<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Smartmatic-V-Bartiromo-Motion-to-Dismiss-02112021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maria Bartiromo &#8211; 2\/11\/2021<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Smartmatic-V-LouDobbs-Motion-to-Dismiss-02112021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lou Dobbs &#8211; 2\/11\/2021<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Smartmatic-V-Pirro-Motion-to-Dismiss-02112021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jeanine Pirro &#8211; 2\/11\/2021<\/a><br><br><strong>Ruling on Motions to Dismiss<\/strong><br>On March 8, 2022, New York State Supreme Court Judge David Cohen <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/SmartmaticvFox-NY-Supreme-Court-Ruling-on-Motions-03082022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">issued a ruling<\/a> denying the motions to dismiss filed by Fox Corporation and Fox News Network LLC, Maria Bartiromo, and Lou Dobbs.<br><br>The ruling granted motions to dismiss filed by Jeanine Pirro and Sidney Powell.<br><br>Most of the claims against Rudy Giuliani were dismissed, but part of the case was allowed to move forward. In June 2022, Giuliani filed a counterclaim to sue Smartmatic for legal fees. Maria Bartiromo and Lou Dobbs have filed similar claims.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_3');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_3');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_3\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[3]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_3\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Jonathan Stempel, &#8220;Rudolph Giuliani sues Smartmatic to recoup legal fees in Fox News lawsuit,&#8221; reuters.com, June 15, 2022<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br><strong>Developments<\/strong><br>In September 2022, the court ordered Fox News to begin turning over documents in the case.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_4');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_4');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_4\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[4]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_4\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Adam Klasfeld, &#8220;Judge Orders Fox News to Start Turning Over Files from a Pool of Millions of Documents to Smartmatic in Billion-Dollar Lawsuit,&#8221; lawandcrime.com, September 6, 2022<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br>On February 14, 2023, the Supreme Court of the State of New York Appellate Division <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Supreme-Court-of-the-State-of-New-York-Appellate-Division-February-2023.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reinstated the third and fifth claims<\/a> against Rudy Giuliani, noting that the ninth claim against Giuliani had already been reinstated by the court. The decision further found that the Supreme Court should have granted Fox Corporation\u2019s motion to dismiss the claims asserted against it, as &#8220;the complaint does not adequately allege that any Fox Corporation employee played an affirmative role in the publication of the challenged defamatory statements. Nor does the complaint adequately allege that Fox Corporation wholly dominated Fox News so as to liable for the acts of its subsidiary.&#8221;<br><br>On March 6, 2023, Fox News filed an <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Fox-Answer-and-Counterclaim-to-the-Plaintiffs-First-Amended-Complaint-151136.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Answer and Counterclaim to the Plaintiff&#8217;s First Amended Complaint<\/a>. On January 23, 2024, the plaintiffs\u2019 motion to dismiss Fox&#8217;s counterclaims was <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/frankel-smartmaticvfox-opiniononFoxcounterclaim.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">denied<\/a>.<\/td><td>The case is still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit5\">5. <em>Dominion v. My Pillow and Mike Lindell<\/em> (1:21-cv-00445)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>2\/22\/2021<\/td><td>The <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Dominion-V-Lindell-02222021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 2\/22\/2021 by Dominion Voting Systems against the defendants My Pillow, Inc. and Mike Lindell in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201cActing in concert with allies and media outlets that were determined to curry favor with one of their biggest sponsors and to promote a false preconceived narrative about the 2020 election, Lindell launched a defamatory marketing campaign about Dominion that reached millions of people and caused enormous harm to Dominion\u2026<br><br>Lindell\u2019s false and defamatory statements\u2026 constitute deceptive trade practices in violation of Minnesota law, M.S.A. Sec. 325D.44(8), as they disparage Dominion\u2019s goods and services by false and misleading representations of fact.\u201d<br><br><strong>Complaint<\/strong><br>Count One \u2013 Defamation Per Se<br>Count Two \u2013 Deceptive Trade Practices<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cDominion employees have been stalked, have been harassed, and have received death threats; Dominion has been forced to make an expenditure of money to remedy the defamation [more than $1,170,000] and to protect the lives of its employees [more than $565,000]; Dominion has lost profits [projected $200 million over the next five years] ; and Dominion\u2019s reputation has been irreparably damaged.\u201d<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>Dominion requested an award of not less than $1,303,470,000: compensatory damages of not less than $651,735,000 and punitive damages of not less than $651,735,000.<\/td><td>My Pillow, Inc. filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Dominion-v-MyPillow-Motion-Dismiss-041921.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">motion to dismiss<\/a> the initial complaint on 4\/19\/2021.<br><br><strong>Summary<\/strong><br>My Pillow filed a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, lack of personal jurisdiction, and improper venue (the motion states that Minnesota would be the proper venue, not DC). The motion said, &#8220;Plaintiffs have failed to identify any conduct of MyPillow that caused any injury to Dominion. Even if Mr. Lindell\u2019s personal political commentary can be attributed to MyPillow, Dominion still cannot show that it has sustained any damage in the District of Columbia.\u201d<br><br>Mike Lindell filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Dominion-v-MikeLindell-Motion-Dismiss-42321.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">motion to dismiss<\/a> the initial complaint on 4\/23\/202: \u201cDominion\u2019s lawsuit is an affront to the First Amendment and is nothing more than a media- driven ploy to discredit or silence anyone who exposes Dominion\u2019s voting systems as the hackable and exploitable threat to American democracy that they are\u2026 Dominion has not met its burden to plausibly plead that Lindell knew his statements were false or that Lindell harbored substantial doubt as to the truth of his statements. Dominion has failed to adequately plead actual malice by Lindell because it cannot.\u201d<br><br><strong>Ruling on Motion to Dismiss<br><\/strong>Judge Carl J. Nichols in the US District Court for the District of Columbia <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Judge-Nichols-Denied-Motion-to-Dismiss-11Aug21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">denied the Defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss <\/a>in full on 8\/11\/2021. In October 2022, the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge brought by Lindell, allowing the suit against him to continue.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_5');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_5');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_5\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[5]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_5\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Alison Durkee, &#8220;Supreme Court Refuses To Take Up MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell\u2019s Case Against Dominion,&#8221; forbes.com, October 3, 2022<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br>[<strong>Note:<\/strong> My Pillow filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/MyPillow-V-Dominion-19April21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">counterclaim<\/a> against Dominion on 4\/19\/2021 and Mike Lindell filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Lindell-V-Dominion-3June21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">counterclaim<\/a> against Dominion on 6\/3\/2021.]<\/td><td>The case was still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_6');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_6');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_6\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[6]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_6\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>US Dominion, Inc. v. My Pillow, Inc.<\/em> (1:21-cv-00445),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024)<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br>An <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Updated-Scheduling-Order-2-3-5.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amended Scheduling Order<\/a> was signed on 7\/24\/2023 with an in-person Status Conference scheduled for 10\/17\/2024.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit6\">6. <em>Dominion v. Fox News Networks, LLC<\/em> (N21C-03-257 EMD)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>3\/26\/2021<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Dominion-V-Fox-03262021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 3\/26\/2021 by Dominion Voting Systems against the defendant Fox News Networks, LLC, in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201cFox set out to lure viewers back\u2014including President Trump himself\u2014by intentionally and falsely blaming Dominion for President Trump\u2019s loss by rigging the election\u2026 These outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions included Fox falsely claiming that: (1) Dominion committed election fraud by rigging the 2020 Presidential Election; (2) Dominion\u2019s software and algorithms manipulated vote counts in the 2020 Presidential Election; (3) Dominion is owned by a company founded in Venezuela to rig elections for the dictator Hugo Ch\u00e1vez; and (4) Dominion paid kickbacks to government officials who used its machines in the 2020 Presidential Election.\u201d<br><br><strong>Complaint<\/strong><br>Count One \u2013 Defamation Per Se<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cFox\u2019s viral disinformation campaign about Dominion reached over a billion people worldwide\u2026 Dominion employees have been stalked, have been harassed, and have received death threats; Dominion has been forced to make an expenditure of money to remedy the defamation and to protect the lives of its employees; Dominion has lost profits; and Dominion\u2019s enterprise value has been irreparably damaged.\u201d<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>Dominion requested at least $1.6 billion, including compensatory and punitive damages in amount to be determined at trial, and damages for (1) lost profits of not less than $600,000,000; (2) lost enterprise value of not less than $1,000,000,000; (3) security expenses of not less than $600,000; and (4) expenses incurred combatting the disinformation campaign of not less than $700,000.<\/td><td>The defendant filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Dominion-V-Fox-Motion-Dismiss-05182021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">motion to dismiss<\/a> the initial complaint on 5\/18\/2021: \u201cFirst, Dominion has alleged no actionable defamation by Fox. A series of First Amendment and New York free-speech doctrines each independently protect media reporting and commentary on newsworthy allegations of public concern made by the President and his legal team\u2026<br><br>Second, Dominion fails to plead facts alleging that Fox published the challenged speech with actual malice\u2014that is, with knowledge or reckless disregard of its falsity and that the person responsible for telecasting the speech in fact entertained serious doubts about its truth.\u201d<br><br><strong>Developments<\/strong><br>In the lead up to the 2023 trial, Dominion&#8217;s legal team claimed that Fox had destroyed evidence and requested sanctions against the company. Fox also claimed that Dominion executives destroyed private messages. Fox Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch was questioned under oath in December 2022, and other depositions have taken place.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_7');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_7');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_7\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[7]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_7\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">David Folkenflick, &#8220;Rupert Murdoch&#8217;s turn to face questions in $1.6 billion lawsuit against Fox News,&#8221; npr.org, December 11, 2022<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_7').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_7', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br>On December 22, 2022, this case was consolidated with case N21C-11-082 EMD &#8211; <em>Dominion v. Fox Corporation and Fox Broadcasting Company, LLC<\/em> (see <a href=\"#lawsuit12\">Case 12<\/a> below).<br><br>On March 22, 2023, the Fox News Network, LLC, and the Fox Corporation submitted <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/civil-opinion-n21c-03-257-emd.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rule 56 Motions for Summary Judgments<\/a>. That request was denied by Judge Davis on March 31, 2023. On the same dates, Dominion submitted a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/civil-opinion-n21c-03-257-emd.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Motion for Summary Judgement on Liability of Fox News Network, LLC, and Fox Corporation<\/a>. The request was granted in part and denied in part and as a result, the court is allowing the case to go to a jury trial.<\/td><td>Case settled.<br><br>On April 18, 2023, the case went to trial, however after jury selection but before the opening statements, the parties reached a settlement with Fox agreeing to pay Dominion $787.5 million.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_8');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_8');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_8\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[8]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_8\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Matt Taylor, &#8220;Fox News Reaches $787.5 Million Settlement in Dominion&#8217;s Defamation Lawsuit,&#8221; politico.com, April 18, 2023<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_8').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_8', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit7\">7. <em>Dominion v. Newsmax Media, Inc. <\/em>(N21C-08-063)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>8\/10\/2021<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Dominion-V-Newsmax-10Aug21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 8\/10\/2021 by Dominion Voting Systems against the defendant Newsmax Media Inc. in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201cOver the course of several months, Newsmax manufactured, endorsed, repeated, and broadcast a series of verifiably false yet devastating lies about Dominion. These outlandish and far-fetched fictions included that: (1) Dominion committed election fraud by rigging the 2020 Presidential Election; (2) Dominion\u2019s software and algorithms manipulated vote counts in the 2020 Presidential Election; (3) Dominion is owned by or owns a company founded in Venezuela to rig elections for the dictator Hugo Ch\u00e1vez; (4) Dominion paid kickbacks to government officials who used its machines in swing states during the 2020 Presidential Election; and (5) Dominion was involved with alleged voting irregularities in Dallas, Texas, in 2018\u2014even though Dominion\u2019s voting system was not used there.\u201d<br><br><strong>Complaint<\/strong><br>Count One \u2013 Defamation Per Se<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cAs a result of the false accusations broadcast by Newsmax into millions of American homes, Dominion has suffered unprecedented harm and its employees\u2019 lives have been put in danger \u2026 Since the beginning of the viral disinformation campaign, Dominion has spent more than $600,000 on private security for the protection of its people \u2026<br><br>Dominion has not received numerous contracts as a result of the lies spread by Newsmax and others. As of July 23, 2021, these contracts were worth a combined $90 million over 53 separate potential contracts \u2026 Conservative projections show lost profits from existing customers of over $463 million and from potential new customers of over $68 million.&#8221;<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>Dominion requested at least $1.6 billion, including general compensatory and punitive damages in amount to be determined at trial, and damages for (1) lost profits of not less than $600,000,000; (2) lost enterprise value of not less than $1,000,000,000; (3) security expenses of not less than $600,000; and (4) expenses incurred combatting the disinformation campaign of not less than $700,000; plus interest, expenses, and attorney fees.<\/td><td>Newsmax filed a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim on 10\/11\/2021 (we have not found a copy of the motion).<br><span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_9');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_9');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_9\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[9]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_9\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">State of Delaware Courts Judicial Case Database, \u201cCase ID N21C-08-063,\u201d courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov (accessed November 10, 2021)<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_9').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_9', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br><strong>Summary<\/strong><br>In an 8\/10\/2021 statement, Newsmax said, &#8220;While Newsmax has not reviewed the Dominion filing, in its coverage of the 2020 Presidential elections, Newsmax simply reported on allegations made by well-known public figures, including the President, his advisors and members of Congress \u2014 Dominion\u2019s action today is a clear attempt to squelch such reporting and undermine a free press.&#8221;<br><span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_10');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_10');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_10\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[10]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_10\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Jan Wolfe and Tom Hals, \u201cDominion sues Newsmax, One America over U.S. election fraud claims,\u201d reuters.com, August 10, 2021<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_10').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_10', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br><strong>Ruling on Motion to Dismiss<\/strong><br>On 6\/16\/2022, Judge Eric Davis in the Superior Court of Delaware denied to the motion to dismiss because &#8220;there were enough signs indicating the statements were not true to infer Newsmax\u2019s intent to avoid the truth.&#8221;<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_11');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_11');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_11\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[11]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_11\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Brad Dress, &#8220;Dominion Voting Systems\u2019 lawsuit against Newsmax can proceed, judge rules,&#8221; thehill.com, June 16, 2022<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_11').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_11', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/td><td>This case was still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_12');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_12');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_12\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[12]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_12\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Delaware Courts Judicial Branch, &#8220;Docket Report Results &#8211; Case ID: N21C-08-063,&#8221; courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov, accessed June 11, 2024<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_12').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_12', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br>The case is set to go to trial in September 2024.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_13');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_13');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_13\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[13]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_13\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Jane C. Trimm, &#8220;Dominion Wins Access to Newsmax Journalists\u2019 Texts in Its Defamation Case,&#8221; nbcnews.com, December 8, 2023<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_13').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_13', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit8\">8. <em>Dominion v. Herring Networks Inc. (owner of One America News Network), Charles Herring, Robert Herring, Chanel Rion, and Christina Bobb<\/em> (1:21-cv-02130)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>8\/10\/2021<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Dominion-V-OAN-10Aug21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 8\/10\/2021 by Dominion Voting Systems against the defendants Herring Networks Inc. (owner of One America News Network), network owners Charles Herring and Robert Herring, and OAN on-air personalities Chanel Rion and Christina Bobb, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201cOver the course of several months, OAN manufactured, endorsed, repeated, and broadcast a series of verifiably false yet devastating lies about Dominion. These outlandish and far-fetched fictions included that: (1) Dominion committed election fraud by rigging the 2020 Presidential Election; (2) Dominion\u2019s software and algorithms manipulated vote counts in the 2020 Presidential Election; (3) Dominion is owned by or owns a company founded in Venezuela to rig elections for the dictator Hugo Ch\u00e1vez; and (4) Dominion was involved with alleged voting irregularities in Philadelphia and Dallas\u2014cities where its voting system is not even used.\u201d<br><br><strong>Complaint<\/strong><br>Count One \u2013 Defamation Per Se<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cConservative projections show lost profits from existing customers of over $463 million and from potential new customers of over $68 million. In addition, the viral disinformation campaign has irreparably damaged Dominion. It has decimated Dominion\u2019s goodwill and destroyed the enterprise value of a business that was worth potentially more than $1 billion.&#8221;<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>Dominion requested at least $1.6 billion, including general compensatory and punitive damages in amount to be determined at trial, and damages for (1) lost profits of not less than $600,000,000; (2) lost enterprise value of not less than $1,000,000,000; (3) security expenses of not less than $600,000; and (4) expenses incurred combatting the disinformation campaign of not less than $700,000; plus interest, expenses, and attorney fees.<\/td><td>Judge Carl J. Nichols granted an unopposed motion for extension of time on 9\/15\/21, ordering the defendants to respond to the complaint by 10\/19\/2021. The court docket was last updated on 10\/7\/2021, so it is unclear whether a motion to dismiss has been filed.<br><span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_14');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_14');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_14\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[14]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_14\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Justia Dockets and Filings, \u201cUS DOMINION, INC. et al v. HERRING NETWORKS, INC. et al,\u201d dockets.justia.com (accessed November 10, 2021)<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_14').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_14', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br><strong>Summary<\/strong><br>OAN founder and CEO Robert Herring Sr. told Times of San Diego in response to questions about the lawsuit, \u201cI figure when we put out the news, our news is always good. So we don\u2019t have to worry about it. Meet \u2019em in court \u2026 We\u2019ll go to court and we\u2019ll have our day in court. OK, you [media] guys can sit there and turn it however you want. \u2026 All the [coverage] that we\u2019ve ever had for our side of the story \u2014 it never came out right. So we really don\u2019t have anything to say.\u201d<br><span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_15');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_15');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_15\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[15]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_15\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Ken Stone, \u201cBankruptcy for OAN? Dominion Libel Suit Imperils San Diego Cable Outlet,\u201d timesofsandiego.com, August 14, 2021<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_15').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_15', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br><strong>Ruling on Motion to Dismiss<br><\/strong>On 11\/7\/2022, Judge Nichols <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dominon-v-herring-MTD-denied-7Nov2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">denied<\/a> the motion to dismiss.<br><br><strong>Developments<\/strong><br>On May 5, 2023, Herring Networks Inc., et al., filed an <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/DOMINION-OAN-02130-Counter-Claim-May-2023.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amended Counterclaim \/ Third-Party Complaint<\/a> against US Dominion Inc., et al.  <\/td><td>The case was still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_16');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_16');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_16\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[16]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_16\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>US Dominion, Inc. v. Herring Networks, Inc. <\/em>(1:21-cv-02130),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024)<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_16').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_16', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit9\">9. <em>Dominion v. Patrick Byrne<\/em> (former CEO of Overstock) (1:21-cv-02131)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>8\/10\/2021<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Dominion-V-Byrne-10Aug21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 8\/10\/2021 by Dominion Voting Systems against the defendant Patrick Byrne (former CEO of Overstock) in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201c[Patrick Byrne] previously invested millions of dollars in\u2014and continues promoting\u2014 blockchain voting technology, which can succeed only if voters and elected officials reject the auditable paper-based voting systems currently provided by Dominion \u2026<br><br>Defendant Patrick Byrne is an individual who is a resident of Utah and who spent at least three months in Washington, D.C. waging a defamatory disinformation campaign against Dominion in collaboration with Sidney Powell, General Michael Flynn, Rudy Giuliani, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, and others.\u201d<br><br><strong>Complaint<\/strong><br>Count One \u2013 Defamation Per Se<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cDominion has not received numerous contracts as a result of the lies spread by Byrne and others \u2026 Conservative projections show lost profits from existing customers of over $463 million and from potential new customers of over $68 million. In addition, the viral disinformation campaign has irreparably damaged Dominion. It has decimated Dominion\u2019s goodwill and destroyed the enterprise value of a business that was worth potentially more than $1 billion.&#8221;<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>Dominion requested at least $1.6 billion, including general compensatory and punitive damages in amount to be determined at trial, and damages for (1) lost profits of not less than $600,000,000; (2) lost enterprise value of not less than $1,000,000,000; (3) security expenses of not less than $600,000; and (4) expenses incurred combatting the disinformation campaign of not less than $700,000; plus interest, expenses, and attorney fees.<\/td><td>The case was assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols on 8\/10\/2021.<br><br>Patrick Byrne filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Dominion-v-Byrne-Motion-to-Dismiss-11172021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Motion to Dismiss<\/a> on 11\/17\/2021<strong>:<\/strong> [Dominion&#8217;s] &#8220;claims are baseless and the record shows that questions regarding electronic voting machine systems generally and Dominion\u2019s in particular did not originate with Byrne, but actually predate all the lawsuits and November 2020 post-election claims.&#8221;<br><br><strong>Ruling on Motion to Dismiss<br><\/strong>On 4\/20\/2022, Judge Nichols <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/byrne-MTD-denied-20April2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">denied<\/a> the motion to dismiss.<br><br><strong>Developments<\/strong><br>In December 2022, Dominion requested an extension of the court schedule that includes depositions in 2023 and deadlines to file replies in support of dispositive motions into January 2024.<\/td><td>The case was still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_17');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_17');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_17\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[17]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_17\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>US Dominion, Inc. v. Byrne<\/em> (1:21-cv-02131),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024)<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_17').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_17', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit10\">10. <em>Smartmatic v. Newsmax Media, Inc.<\/em> (N21C-11-028)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>11\/3\/2021<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Smartmatic-V-Newsmax-3Nov21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 11\/3\/2021 by Smartmatic against the defendant Newsmax Media, Inc., in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201cIn November and December 2020, Newsmax published dozens of reports indicating that Smartmatic participated in a criminal conspiracy to rig and steal the 2020 U.S. election and that its technology and software were used to switch votes from former President Trump to now President Biden \u2026 Newsmax had no evidence to support what its anchors had been saying \u2026 Smartmatic did not play any role in the general election outside of Los Angeles County. Smartmatic\u2019s election technology, software, equipment, and services were not used in any other county or state for the 2020 U.S. election.\u201d<br><br><strong>Complaint<\/strong><br>First Cause of Action: Defamation for false statements and implications about plaintiff Smartmatic<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cSmartmatic has been required to spend in excess of $400,000 on public relations and crisis management\u2026 in excess of $100,000 on cybersecurity \u2026 [and] in excess of $700,000 on retention and recruitment for personnel \u2026 Moreover, Newsmax\u2019s publication of its defamatory statements was a substantial cause of Smartmatic\u2019s diminished business value and prospects.\u201d Smartmatic estimates that its election-related business value dropped by at least $2 billion.<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>Smartmatic has requested compensatory, actual, consequential, punitive, and special damages in an amount to be determined at trial, as well as attorneys\u2019 fees, lawsuit costs, and interest at the highest lawful rates.<br><br><strong>Jury Demand<\/strong><br>Smartmatic has demanded a trial with a 12-person jury.<\/td><td>Newsmax filed a counterclaim on February 4, 2022 (we have not found a copy of the filing).<br><span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_18');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_18');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_18\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[18]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_18\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">State of Delaware Courts Judicial Case Database, \u201cCase ID N21C-11-028,\u201d courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov (accessed June 1, 2022)<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_18').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_18', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br>According to media reports, the filing stated, &#8220;The action brought by Smartmatic against Newsmax arises from and is because of Newsmax&#8217;s exercise of its right to free speech in connection with issues of public interest.&#8221;<br><span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_19');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_19');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_19\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[19]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_19\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Jan Wolfe, &#8220;Newsmax Counter-sues Smartmatic, Widening Fight Over U.S. Election Fraud Claims,&#8221; reuters.com, February 7, 2022<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_19').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_19', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br><strong>Developments<\/strong><br>In June 2022, Newsmax claimed that theories about election rigging could be seen as reasonable and therefore the lawsuit should be dismissed.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_20');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_20');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_20\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[20]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_20\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Erik Larson, &#8220;Newsmax Claims Smartmatic Vote-Rigging Theory Wasn\u2019t \u2018Inherently Incredible,\u2019 bloomberg.com, June 14, 2022<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_20').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_20', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br>Newsmax&#8217;s Motion for Judgement was <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Smartmatic-U.S.-Corp.-v.-NewsMax-Media-Inc.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">denied<\/a> on 2\/3\/2023. <\/td><td>This case was still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024. <br><br>A civil trial is set for 9\/30\/2024.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_21');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_21');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_21\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[21]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_21\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Delaware Courts Judicial Branch, &#8220;Docket Report Results &#8211; Case ID: N21C-11-028,&#8221; courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov, accessed June 11, 2024<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_21').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_21', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit11\">11. <em>Smartmatic v. Herring Networks, Inc. d\/b\/a One America News Network<\/em> (1:21-cv-02900)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>11\/3\/2021<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Smartmatic-V-OAN-3Nov21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 11\/3\/2021 by Smartmatic against the defendant Herring Networks, Inc. (owner of One America News Network), in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201cOANN published report after report naming Smartmatic as one of the voting machine companies that had conspired to steal the election by switching votes from former President Trump to current President Biden. It was all a lie. And OANN knew it \u2026 Smartmatic is a victim of OANN\u2019s decision to increase its viewership and influence by spreading disinformation.\u201d<br><br><strong>Complaint<\/strong><br>First Cause of Action: Defamation for false statements and implications about Smartmatic<br>Second Cause of Action: Injurious falsehood for false statements and implications about Smartmatic\u2019s election technology and software<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cSmartmatic has been required to spend in excess of $400,000 on public relations and crisis management \u2026 in excess of $100,000 on cybersecurity \u2026 [and] in excess of $700,000 on retention and recruitment for personnel \u2026 Moreover, OANN\u2019s publication of its defamatory statements was a substantial cause of Smartmatic\u2019s diminished business value and prospects.\u201d Smartmatic estimates that its election-related business value dropped by at least $2 billion.<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>Smartmatic has requested compensatory, actual, consequential, punitive, and special damages in an amount to be determined at trial, as well as attorneys\u2019 fees, lawsuit costs, and interest at the highest lawful rates.<br><br><strong>Jury Demand<\/strong><br>Smartmatic has requested a trial by jury.<\/td><td>The case was assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols on 2\/22\/2021.<br><br>Herring Networks filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Smartmatic-v-Herring-Motion-to-Dismiss-02182022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Motion to Dismiss or Transfer<\/a> on 2\/18\/2022. The motion stated, &#8220;The Complaint fails to adequately allege personal jurisdiction over OAN, fails to justify venue in this District, and fails to tie Smartmatic\u2019s claims to this District. Accordingly, the case should be dismissed for failure to adequately plead personal jurisdiction. Alternatively, the case should be transferred to the U.S. Southern District of California based on improper venue here.&#8221;<br><br><strong>Ruling on Motion to Dismiss<\/strong><br>On 6\/21\/2022, Judge Nichols <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/smartmatic-v-herring-MTD-denied-21June2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">denied<\/a> the motion to dismiss.<br><br><strong>Developments<\/strong><br>Herring filed an <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/herring-answer-smartmatic-26Aug2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">answer to the initial complaint<\/a> on 8\/26\/2022.<\/td><td>The case was still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_22');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_22');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_22\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[22]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_22\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>Smartmatic USA Corp. v. Herring Networks, Inc.<\/em> (1:21-cv-02900),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024)<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_22').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_22', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit12\">12. <em>Dominion v. Fox Corporation and Fox Broadcasting Company, LLC <\/em>(N21C-11-082 EMD)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>11\/8\/2021<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Dominion-V-Fox-Corp-8Nov21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 11\/8\/2021 by Dominion against the defendants Fox Corporation and Fox Broadcasting Company, LLC, in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201cFox endorsed, repeated, and broadcast a series of verifiably false yet devastating lies about Dominion. These outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions included Fox falsely claiming that: (1) Dominion committed election fraud by rigging the 2020 Presidential Election; (2) Dominion\u2019s software and algorithms manipulated vote counts in the 2020 Presidential Election; (3) Dominion is owned by a company founded in Venezuela to rig elections for the dictator Hugo Ch\u00e1vez; and (4) Dominion paid kickbacks to government officials who used its machines in the 2020 Presidential Election.\u201d<br><br><strong>Complaint<\/strong><br>Count One \u2013 Defamation Per Se<br>Second Cause of Action: Injurious falsehood for false statements and implications about Smartmatic\u2019s election technology and software<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cFox\u2019s viral disinformation campaign about Dominion reached over a billion people worldwide and caused enormous harm to Dominion \u2026 Dominion employees have been stalked, have been harassed, and have received death threats; Dominion has been forced to make an expenditure of money to remedy the defamation and to protect the lives of its employees; Dominion has lost profits; Dominion has suffered a loss of goodwill; and Dominion\u2019s enterprise value has been irreparably damaged.&#8221;<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>Dominion requested at least $1.6 billion, including compensatory and punitive damages in amount to be determined at trial, and damages for (1) lost profits of not less than $600,000,000; (2) lost enterprise value of not less than $1,000,000,000; (3) security expenses of not less than $600,000; and (4) expenses incurred combatting the disinformation campaign of not less than $700,000, plus costs and attorneys\u2019 fees.<br><br><strong>Jury Demand<\/strong><br>Plaintiffs demand a trial by jury on all claims and issues so triable.<\/td><td>Assigned to Judge Eric M. Davis.<br><br>A spokesperson for Fox Corp. said, \u201cThe filing changes nothing of substance in this case. Fox is proud of our 2020 election coverage, which stands in the highest tradition of American journalism, and we will continue to vigorously defend against this baseless lawsuit in court.\u201d<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_23');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_23');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_23\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[23]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_23\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Ted Johnson, &#8220;Dominion Voting Systems Sues Fox Corp. In Latest Defamation Lawsuit Over False Election Claims,&#8221; deadline.com, November 12, 2021<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_23').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_23', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><br><br>Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss on 12\/30\/2021 (we have not found a copy of the filing).<br><br><strong>Ruling on Motion to Dismiss<\/strong><br>On 6\/21\/2022, Judge Davis <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Dominion-v-Fox-MTD-ruling-June2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">denied<\/a> the motion to dismiss in part and granted it in part. The case against Fox Corporation was allowed to continue, but the claims against Fox Broadcasting Company for fraud allegations published on Fox.com were dismissed.<br><br>On December 22, 2022, this case was consolidated with case N21C-03-257 EMD &#8211; <em>Dominion v. Fox News Networks, LLC<\/em> (see <a href=\"#lawsuit6\">Case 6<\/a> above).<br><br>On March 22, 2023, the Fox Corporation, submitted a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/civil-opinion-n21c-03-257-emd.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rule 56 Motion for Summary Judgment<\/a>. That request was denied by Judge Davis on March 31, 2023. On the same dates, Dominion submitted a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/civil-opinion-n21c-03-257-emd.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Motion for Summary Judgement on Liability of Fox News Network, LLC, and Fox Corporation<\/a>. The request was granted in part and denied in part and as a result, the court is allowing the case to go to a jury trial.<br><\/td><td>Case settled.<br><br>On April 18, 2023, the case went to trial, however after jury selection but before the opening statements, the parties reached a settlement with Fox agreeing to pay Dominion $787.5 million.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_24');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_24');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_24\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[24]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_24\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Matt Taylor, \u201cFox News Reaches $787.5 Million Settlement in Dominion\u2019s Defamation Lawsuit,\u201d politico.com, April 18, 2023<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_24').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_24', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit13\">13. <em>Coomer v. Salem Media of Colorado Inc. and Randy Corporon <\/em>(2021CV33632)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>11\/13\/2021<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Coomer-v-Salem-Media-11132021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 11\/13\/2021 by former Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer against the defendants Salem Media of Colorado and Randy Corporon in the Denver District Court.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201cThis case is based on Salem Media\u2019s and Corporon\u2019s false accusations that Dr. Coomer sat at the center of a national conspiracy to rig the 2020 Presidential election. Both Salem Media, which owns Denver-based 710 KNUS, and Corporon, a 710 KNUS host, elevated Dr. Coomer into the national spotlight, invaded his privacy, threatened his security, and fundamentally defamed his reputation through a relentless election fraud campaign.\u201d<br><br><strong>Causes of Action<\/strong><br>A. Defamation Against Defendants<br>B. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Against Defendants<br>C. Negligent Supervision and\/or Negligent Retention Against Salem Media<br>D. Civil Conspiracy Against Defendants<br>E. Permanent Injunction<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cThe deluge of misinformation has caused immense injury to Dr.Coomer\u2019s reputation, professional standing, safety, and privacy. Once an esteemed private election technology expert, Dr. Coomer has been vilified and subjected to an onslaught of offensive messages and harassment. In response to multiple credible death threats, Dr. Coomer was forced to leave his home and spend months in hiding in fear for his safety.\u201d<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>&#8220;Permanent injunctive relief requiring Defendants and their officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys to remove any and all defamatory publications made about Dr. Coomer; Actual and special damages against Defendants in an amount to be proven at trial; Attorney\u2019s fees and costs.\u201d<br><br><strong>Jury Demand<\/strong><br>Plaintiff requested a trial by jury.<\/td><td>Docket details not found.<\/td><td>As far as we know, the case was still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit14\">14. <em>Coomer v. Make Your Life Epic LLC dba Thrivetime Show and Clayton Thomas Clark <\/em>(1:21-cv-3440)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>12\/22\/2021<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Coomer-v-Clark-12222020.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 12\/22\/2021 by former Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer against the defendants Make Your Life Epic LLC and Clayton Thomas Clark in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201cThis case is about a relentless defamation campaign against Dr. Coomer perpetrated by Clay Clark\u2019s ReAwaken America Tour, Clay Clark\u2019s ThriveTime, and by Clark himself. Through their traveling tour and series of nationally published interviews, Defendants have monetized a false election fraud narrative and promoted a constant drumbeat of outright falsehoods intended to place Dr. Coomer at the center of an imagined conspiracy to defraud the American people.\u201d<br><br><strong>Causes of Action<\/strong><br>A. Defamation Against Defendants<br>B. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Against Defendants<br>C. Civil Conspiracy Against Defendants<br>D. Permanent Injunction<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cAfter more than fifteen years as a respected professional at the top of his field, Dr. Coomer\u2019s reputation has been irreparably tarnished. He can no longer work in the elections industry on account of the unwarranted distrust inspired by Defendants\u2019 lies, and instead now endures frequent credible death threats and the burden of being made the face of an imagined criminal conspiracy of unprecedented scope in American history.\u201d<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>\u201cPermanent injunctive relief requiring Defendants and their officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys to remove any and all defamatory publications made about Dr. Coomer; Actual and special damages against Defendants in an amount to be proven at trial; Attorney\u2019s fees and costs.\u201d<br><br><strong>Jury Demand<\/strong><br>Plaintiff requested a trial by jury.<\/td><td>Magistrate Judge Kristen L. Mix then reassigned to Judge William J. Martinez.<br><br>Defendants <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/coomer-v-epic-andclark-MTD-23Mar2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">filed<\/a> a motion to dismiss on 3\/23\/2022 which was <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1-21-cv-3440-motion-denied.pdf\">denied<\/a> on 3\/7\/2023.<br><\/td><td>As far as we know, the case was still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_25');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_25');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_25\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[25]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_25\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Justia, &#8220;<em>Coomer v. Make Your Life Epic LLC et al<\/em>,&#8221; dockets.justia.com, accessed June 11, 2024<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_25').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_25', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit15\">15. <em>Smartmatic v. Mike Lindell and My Pillow <\/em>(0:22-cv-00098-WMW-JFD)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1\/18\/2022<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Smartmatic-v-Lindell-01182022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 1\/18\/2022 by Smartmatic against the defendants Michael J. Lindell and My Pillow, Inc., in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201cMr. Lindell told people that Smartmatic stole the 2020 U.S. election &#8230; Mr. Lindell intentionally stoked the fires of xenophobia and party-divide for the noble purpose of selling his pillows.&#8221;<br><br><strong>Complaint<\/strong><br>First Cause of Action: Defamation for False Statements and Implications<br>Second Cause of Action: Minnesota Deceptive Trade Practices, MSA \u00a7 325D.44(8)<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cMr. Lindell\u2019s defamatory statements led to Smartmatic\u2019s name and brand becoming synonymous with election fraud for members of the general public and government officials, particularly those in the United States &#8230; Prior to the 2020 U.S. election, based on its historical business and pipeline, Smartmatic\u2019s business was valued in excess of $3.0 billion based on a modest multiplier. Now, following Mr. Lindell\u2019s publication of his defamatory statements, Smartmatic\u2019s business is valued at less than $1 billion.&#8221;<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>&#8220;Smartmatic seeks to recover for the economic and non-economic damage caused by Defendants\u2019 disinformation campaign, punitive damages, attorneys\u2019 fees and costs, and a permanent injunction.&#8221;<br><br><strong>Jury Demand<\/strong><br>Smartmatic requested a trial by jury.<\/td><td>Assigned to Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright on 1\/18\/2022.<br><br>Lindell filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Smartmatic-v-Lindell-Motion-to-Dismiss-03212022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Motion to Dismiss<\/a> on 3\/21\/2022. The motion was <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/lindell-smartmatic-motion-to-dimiss-denied-19Sep2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">denied<\/a> on 9\/19\/2022.<br><br><\/td><td>As far as we know, this case was still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_26');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_26');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_26\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[26]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_26\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>Smartmatic USA Corp. v. Lindell<\/em> (0:22-cv-00098),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_26').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_26', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lawsuit16\">16. <em>Eric Coomer v. Michael J. Lindell, Frankspeech LLC, and My Pillow, Inc. <\/em>(2022CV30920)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table centerheader statestable\"><table><thead><tr><th>A.<br>Date Filed<\/th><th>B.<br>Initial Complaint<\/th><th>C.<br>Initial Response<\/th><th>D.<br>Current Status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>4\/4\/2022<\/td><td>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/VotingMachine\/Coomer-v-Lindell-04042022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">initial complaint<\/a> was filed on 4\/4\/2022 by former Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer against the defendants Mike Lindell, Frankspeech, and My Pillow, Inc., in the Denver District Court.<br><br><strong>Summary from the Initial Complaint<\/strong><br>\u201cLindell and his related companies Frankspeech LLC and My Pillow, Inc. have been among the most prolific vectors of baseless conspiracy theories claiming election fraud in the 2020 election. \u2026 Lindell and his companies have gone out of their way to target Dr. Coomer, former Director of Product Strategy and Security for Dominion Voting Systems.\u201d<br><br><strong>Causes of Action<\/strong><br>A. Defamation Against Defendants<br>B. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Against Defendants<br>C. Civil Conspiracy Against Defendants<br>D. Permanent Injunction<br><br><strong>Harm Alleged<\/strong><br>\u201cDr. Coomer\u2019s reputation has been irreparably tarnished. He can no longer work in the elections industry on account of the unwarranted distrust inspired by Defendants\u2019 lies, and instead now endures frequent credible death threats and the burden of being made the face of an imagined criminal conspiracy of unprecedented scope in American history.\u201d<br><br><strong>Damages<\/strong><br>\u201cPermanent injunctive relief requiring Defendants and their officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys to remove any and all defamatory publications made about Dr. Coomer; Actual and special damages against Defendants in an amount to be proven at trial; Attorney\u2019s fees and costs.\u201d<br><br><strong>Jury Demand<\/strong><br>Plaintiff requested a trial by jury.<\/td><td>Assigned to Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews on 5\/5\/2022 and reassigned to Judge Nina Y. Wang on 8\/5\/2022.<br><br>On 12\/2\/2022, Coomer filed a motion to compel document production and testimony deposition from third party Joseph Oltmann, who responded with a motion to quash.<\/td><td>As far as we know, the case was still being litigated as of 6\/11\/2024.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_27');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_27');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_27\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[27]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_27\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Trellis, &#8220;<em>Coomer PhD, Eric v. Lindell, Michael J et al<\/em>,&#8221; trellis.law, accessed June 11, 2024<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_27').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_27', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"context\"><strong><a id=\"More-Context\"><\/a>Additional Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the 2020 election, Dominion Voting Systems products were used in an estimated 24 states, while Smartmatic was only used in California\u2019s Los Angeles County. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_28');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_28');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_28\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[28]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_28\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Verified Voting, \u201cThe Verifier \u2014 Search \u2014 November 2020,\u201d verifiedvoting.org (accessed May 26, 2021)<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_28').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_28', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script> We have no explanation why Dominion and Smartmatic were targeted by claims of fraud while other voting machine companies were not mentioned by name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both Dominion and Smartmatic have denied all accusations of fraud. They have also refuted specific allegations, including claims that the two companies share ownership or software, and that the machines were created in Venezuela at the direction of the late Hugo Chavez. The Associated Press, Reuters, and other sources found no evidence that Dominion had any ties to Smartmatic <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_29');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_29');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_29\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[29]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_29\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Reuters Staff, \u201cFact check: Dominion is not linked to Antifa or Venezuela, did not switch U.S. 2020 election votes in Virginia and was not subject to a U.S. army raid in Germany,\u201d reuters.com,&nbsp;&#x2026; <span class=\"footnote_tooltip_continue\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_29');\">Continue reading<\/span><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_29').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_29', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script> or Venezuela<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_30');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_30');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_30\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[30]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_30\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Ali Swenson, \u201cSmartmatic does not own Dominion Voting Systems,\u201d apnews.com, November 17, 2020<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_30').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_30', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eric Coomer was the Director of Strategy and Security for Dominion Voting Systems. Following the 2020 election, defendants named in his lawsuits claimed that he had participated in a call with Antifa stating that he would act to subvert the results of the election.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_31');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_31');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_31\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[31]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_31\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Associated Press, &#8220;Denver Judge Says Former Dominion Voting Employee&#8217;s Defamation Suit Can Proceed,&#8221; 9news.com, May 13, 2022<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_31').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_31', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script> Coomer reportedly received death threats and targeted harassment from people who believed he had stolen the election from Trump.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_32');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_32');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_32\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[32]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_32\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Susan Dominus, &#8220;He Was the \u2018Perfect Villain\u2019 for Voting Conspiracists,&#8221; nytimes.com, September 21, 2021<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_32').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_32', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"sanction\">On December 22, 2020, eight U.S. citizens filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sanctions\/ORourke_Class_Action.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">class action lawsuit<\/a> on behalf of all U.S. voters alleging their right to vote was infringed upon by the actions of several defendants, including Dominion Voting Systems.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_33');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_33');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_33\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[33]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_33\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Kevin O\u2019Rourke, et al. v. Dominion Voting Systems Inc., et al. (Civil Action No. 1:20-cv-03747). Other defendants included Facebook Inc., the Center for Tech and Civil Life, and the governors and&nbsp;&#x2026; <span class=\"footnote_tooltip_continue\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_33');\">Continue reading<\/span><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_33').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_33', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script> The plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed government officials from the case, then a judge <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sanctions\/ORourke_Order_Dimiss_1_20-cv-03747.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dismissed<\/a> the remainder of the defendants, calling the case &#8220;fatally flawed.&#8221; On August 3, 2021, two lawyers acting for the plaintiffs in the case, Gary D. Fielder and Ernest John Walker, were <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/ElectionLawsuits\/Sanctions\/CO-sanction-judge-neureiter-8-3-2021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sanctioned<\/a> for filing a lawsuit in bad faith, for including highly disputed and inflammatory statements against the defendants, and for inherent legal flaws and inadequate inquiry, among other conclusions. Fielder and Walker were ordered to pay sanctions totaling over $184,000 plus reasonable attorneys fees and expenses. In May 2022, after appeal, the United States District Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sanctions\/ORourkeAppeal.pdf\">affir<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sanctions\/ORourkeAppeal.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">m<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sanctions\/ORourkeAppeal.pdf\">ed<\/a> the ruling. In December 2022, the sanctions requiring them to pay a total of $186,922.50 were <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/ORourke_Appeal_Dec2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">upheld<\/a> by the unanimous ruling of a three-judge panel in the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Retraction Demands<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting on December 17, 2020,<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_34');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_34');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_34\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[34]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_34\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Dominion, \u201cDominion Demands Retraction of Sidney Powell\u2019s Defamatory Falsehoods,\u201d dominionvoting.com, December 17, 2020<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_34').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_34', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script> about six weeks after the November 3, 2020 presidential election, Dominion sent more than 150 retraction and\/or record preservation demand letters to people and companies that had accused them of election fraud. Recipients included attorneys Rudy Giuliani, Sydney Powell, and Lin Wood; MyPillow founder Mike Lindell; Newsmax and Fox hosts Greg Kelly, Sean Hannity, and Maria Bartiromo; and media companies Fox News, One America News, Newsmax, and The American Thinker.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_35');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_35');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_35\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[35]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_35\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Matt Naham, \u201cLawyers for Dominion Voting Systems Sent 21 Retraction or Record Preservation Demand Letters This Week \u2014 Read Them All Here,\u201d lawandcrime.com, December 24, 2020<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_35').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_35', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On December 14, 2020, Smartmatic issued legal notices and retraction demand letters to Fox News, Newsmax, and One America News Network for publishing false and defamatory statements.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_36');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_36');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_36\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[36]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_36\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Smartmatic, \u201cSmartmatic Demands Justice for Defamation,\u201d smartmatic.com, December 14, 2020<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_36').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_36', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fox News<a href=\"https:\/\/video.foxbusiness.com\/v\/6217257237001#sp=show-clips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> aired a segment<\/a> that debunked conspiracy theories about Smartmatic on Fox Business host Lou Dobbs\u2019 show on December 18, 2020. The same fact check then aired on December 19 on Jeanine Pirro\u2019s show and on December 20 on Maria Bartiromo\u2019s show. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_37');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_37');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_37\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[37]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_37\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Josh Feldman, \u201cLou Dobbs Airs Stunning Fact-Check of His Own Election Conspiracies After Company Threatens Legal Action,\u201d mediaite.com, December 18, 2020<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_37').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_37', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Newsmax published an article on December 19, 2020, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/tv\/newsmax-tv-airs-extensive-fact-check-of-false-claims-made-about-voting-companies-after-legal-threats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/tv\/newsmax-tv-airs-extensive-fact-check-of-false-claims-made-about-voting-companies-after-legal-threats\/\">aired a segment<\/a> on December 21, 2020, negating some of the false claims they had aired about Dominion and Smartmatic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The American Thinker published a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanthinker.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/statement.html\" target=\"_blank\">retraction and apology to Dominion<\/a> on January 15, 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On April 30, 2021, Newsmax <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210430220349\/https:\/\/www.newsmax.com\/newsfront\/eric-coomer-dominion-voting-systems\/2021\/04\/30\/id\/1019671\/\" target=\"_blank\">issued a retraction<\/a> and an apology for airing allegations against Eric Coomer and said it had found no evidence that Coomer had spoken to Antifa. Coomer subsequently dropped his lawsuit against Newsmax.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_38');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_239_1('footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_38');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_38\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[38]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_38\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Amy B. Wang, &#8220;Newsmax Apologizes to Dominion Employee for Falsely Alleging He Manipulated Votes Against Trump,&#8221; washingtonpost.com, April 30, 2021<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_38').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_239_1_38', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"speaker-mute footnotes_reference_container\"> <div class=\"footnote_container_prepare\"><p><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_label pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_239_1();\">References<\/span><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button\" style=\"display: none;\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_239_1();\">[<a id=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_239_1\">+<\/a>]<\/span><\/p><\/div> <div id=\"footnote_references_container_239_1\" style=\"\"><table class=\"footnotes_table footnote-reference-container\"><caption class=\"accessibility\">References<\/caption> <tbody> \r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_1');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_1\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>1<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>US Dominion, Inc. v. Powell <\/em>(1:21-cv-00040),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024)<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_2');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_2\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>2<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>US Dominion, Inc. v. Giuliani<\/em> (1:21-cv-00213),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024)<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_3');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_3\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>3<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Jonathan Stempel, &#8220;Rudolph Giuliani sues Smartmatic to recoup legal fees in Fox News lawsuit,&#8221; reuters.com, June 15, 2022<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_4');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_4\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>4<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Adam Klasfeld, &#8220;Judge Orders Fox News to Start Turning Over Files from a Pool of Millions of Documents to Smartmatic in Billion-Dollar Lawsuit,&#8221; lawandcrime.com, September 6, 2022<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_5');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_5\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>5<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Alison Durkee, &#8220;Supreme Court Refuses To Take Up MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell\u2019s Case Against Dominion,&#8221; forbes.com, October 3, 2022<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_6');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_6\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>6<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>US Dominion, Inc. v. My Pillow, Inc.<\/em> (1:21-cv-00445),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024)<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_7');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_7\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>7<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">David Folkenflick, &#8220;Rupert Murdoch&#8217;s turn to face questions in $1.6 billion lawsuit against Fox News,&#8221; npr.org, December 11, 2022<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_8');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_8\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>8<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Matt Taylor, &#8220;Fox News Reaches $787.5 Million Settlement in Dominion&#8217;s Defamation Lawsuit,&#8221; politico.com, April 18, 2023<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_9');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_9\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>9<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">State of Delaware Courts Judicial Case Database, \u201cCase ID N21C-08-063,\u201d courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov (accessed November 10, 2021)<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_10');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_10\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>10<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Jan Wolfe and Tom Hals, \u201cDominion sues Newsmax, One America over U.S. election fraud claims,\u201d reuters.com, August 10, 2021<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_11');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_11\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>11<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Brad Dress, &#8220;Dominion Voting Systems\u2019 lawsuit against Newsmax can proceed, judge rules,&#8221; thehill.com, June 16, 2022<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_12');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_12\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>12<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Delaware Courts Judicial Branch, &#8220;Docket Report Results &#8211; Case ID: N21C-08-063,&#8221; courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov, accessed June 11, 2024<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_13');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_13\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>13<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Jane C. Trimm, &#8220;Dominion Wins Access to Newsmax Journalists\u2019 Texts in Its Defamation Case,&#8221; nbcnews.com, December 8, 2023<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_14');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_14\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>14<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Justia Dockets and Filings, \u201cUS DOMINION, INC. et al v. HERRING NETWORKS, INC. et al,\u201d dockets.justia.com (accessed November 10, 2021)<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_15');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_15\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>15<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Ken Stone, \u201cBankruptcy for OAN? Dominion Libel Suit Imperils San Diego Cable Outlet,\u201d timesofsandiego.com, August 14, 2021<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_16');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_16\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>16<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>US Dominion, Inc. v. Herring Networks, Inc. <\/em>(1:21-cv-02130),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024)<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_17');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_17\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>17<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>US Dominion, Inc. v. Byrne<\/em> (1:21-cv-02131),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024)<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_18');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_18\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>18<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">State of Delaware Courts Judicial Case Database, \u201cCase ID N21C-11-028,\u201d courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov (accessed June 1, 2022)<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_19');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_19\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>19<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Jan Wolfe, &#8220;Newsmax Counter-sues Smartmatic, Widening Fight Over U.S. Election Fraud Claims,&#8221; reuters.com, February 7, 2022<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_20');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_20\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>20<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Erik Larson, &#8220;Newsmax Claims Smartmatic Vote-Rigging Theory Wasn\u2019t \u2018Inherently Incredible,\u2019 bloomberg.com, June 14, 2022<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_21');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_21\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>21<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Delaware Courts Judicial Branch, &#8220;Docket Report Results &#8211; Case ID: N21C-11-028,&#8221; courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov, accessed June 11, 2024<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_22');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_22\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>22<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>Smartmatic USA Corp. v. Herring Networks, Inc.<\/em> (1:21-cv-02900),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024)<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_23');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_23\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>23<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Ted Johnson, &#8220;Dominion Voting Systems Sues Fox Corp. In Latest Defamation Lawsuit Over False Election Claims,&#8221; deadline.com, November 12, 2021<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_24');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_24\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>24<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Matt Taylor, \u201cFox News Reaches $787.5 Million Settlement in Dominion\u2019s Defamation Lawsuit,\u201d politico.com, April 18, 2023<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_25');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_25\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>25<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Justia, &#8220;<em>Coomer v. Make Your Life Epic LLC et al<\/em>,&#8221; dockets.justia.com, accessed June 11, 2024<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_26');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_26\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>26<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">CourtListener, &#8220;<em>Smartmatic USA Corp. v. Lindell<\/em> (0:22-cv-00098),&#8221; courtlistener.com, accessed June 11, 2024<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_27');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_27\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>27<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Trellis, &#8220;<em>Coomer PhD, Eric v. Lindell, Michael J et al<\/em>,&#8221; trellis.law, accessed June 11, 2024<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_28');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_28\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>28<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Verified Voting, \u201cThe Verifier \u2014 Search \u2014 November 2020,\u201d verifiedvoting.org (accessed May 26, 2021)<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_29');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_29\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>29<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Reuters Staff, \u201cFact check: Dominion is not linked to Antifa or Venezuela, did not switch U.S. 2020 election votes in Virginia and was not subject to a U.S. army raid in Germany,\u201d reuters.com, November 26, 2020<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_30');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_30\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>30<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Ali Swenson, \u201cSmartmatic does not own Dominion Voting Systems,\u201d apnews.com, November 17, 2020<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_31');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_31\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>31<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Associated Press, &#8220;Denver Judge Says Former Dominion Voting Employee&#8217;s Defamation Suit Can Proceed,&#8221; 9news.com, May 13, 2022<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_32');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_32\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>32<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Susan Dominus, &#8220;He Was the \u2018Perfect Villain\u2019 for Voting Conspiracists,&#8221; nytimes.com, September 21, 2021<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_33');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_33\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>33<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\"><em>Kevin O\u2019Rourke, et al. v. Dominion Voting Systems Inc., et al<\/em>. (Civil Action No. 1:20-cv-03747). Other defendants included Facebook Inc., the Center for Tech and Civil Life, and the governors and secretaries of state for Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, among others. The case alleged that the defendants engaged in concerted action to interfere with the 2020 election.<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_34');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_34\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>34<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Dominion, \u201cDominion Demands Retraction of Sidney Powell\u2019s Defamatory Falsehoods,\u201d dominionvoting.com, December 17, 2020<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_35');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_35\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>35<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Matt Naham, \u201cLawyers for Dominion Voting Systems Sent 21 Retraction or Record Preservation Demand Letters This Week \u2014 Read Them All Here,\u201d lawandcrime.com, December 24, 2020<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_36');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_36\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>36<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Smartmatic, \u201cSmartmatic Demands Justice for Defamation,\u201d smartmatic.com, December 14, 2020<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_37');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_37\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>37<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Josh Feldman, \u201cLou Dobbs Airs Stunning Fact-Check of His Own Election Conspiracies After Company Threatens Legal Action,\u201d mediaite.com, December 18, 2020<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_239_1_38');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_239_1_38\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>38<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Amy B. Wang, &#8220;Newsmax Apologizes to Dominion Employee for Falsely Alleging He Manipulated Votes Against Trump,&#8221; washingtonpost.com, April 30, 2021<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> function footnote_expand_reference_container_239_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_239_1').show(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_239_1').text('\u2212'); } function footnote_collapse_reference_container_239_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_239_1').hide(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_239_1').text('+'); } function footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_239_1() { if (jQuery('#footnote_references_container_239_1').is(':hidden')) { footnote_expand_reference_container_239_1(); } else { footnote_collapse_reference_container_239_1(); } } function footnote_moveToReference_239_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_239_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } } function footnote_moveToAnchor_239_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_239_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } }<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(with 6 Counterclaims) Last updated June 11, 2024 Quick Facts: Below the lawsuit details is some additional context. 1. Eric Coomer v. Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., Sidney Powell, Rudolph Giuliani, et al. (2020CV34319) A. Date Filed B.Initial Complaint C.Initial Response D.Current Status 12\/22\/2020 The initial complaint was filed on 12\/22\/2020 by former Dominion [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.amarkfoundation.org\/the2020election\/defamation-lawsuits-filed-by-voting-machine-manufacturers\/\">Read More&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> from 16 Defamation Lawsuits Filed by Voting Machine Manufacturers and a Former Employee<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-239","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>16 Defamation Lawsuits Filed by Voting Machine Manufacturers and a Former Employee - 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