OAN and Smartmatic settle election defamation case

[ificandream]

Source: CNN

By Marshall Cohen and Oliver Darcy, CNN

Voting technology company Smartmatic and the far-right network One America News said Tuesday that they had settled a defamation lawsuit stemming from the outlet’s lies about the 2020 election. “The case has been resolved pursuant to a confidential agreement,” OAN attorney Chip Babcock told CNN.

Both parties declined to share details about the settlement. The case against OAN was one of a spate of lawsuits filed against right-wing outlets in the aftermath of the election. In the wake of the 2020 presidential contest, pro-Donald Trump outlets spread lies wrongfully suggesting President Joe Biden had not been legitimately elected president. Smartmatic filed its lawsuit against OAN in 2021, alleging that the right-wing conspiracy network “victimized” the company and spread lies about its role in the 2020 election to “increase viewership and revenue.”

The development comes one year after Fox News reached a massive settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, another voting technology company that was similarly smeared in 2020. Fox News paid more than $787 million to end that lawsuit, becoming the largest publicly known defamation settlement in US history. Smartmatic still has pending lawsuit against Fox News, the smaller conservative channel Newsmax, and several pro-Trump figures who also pushed lies about the election.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/16/media/oan-smartmatic-settlement/index.html

[OrangeJoe]

1. Not happy

I'm disgusted to see that Smartmatic is more interested in getting monetary compensation rather than a full fledged public admission and apology from these liars. The settlement should have been public and should have included a requirement that OAN air 5 minute segments numerous times per day for a couple of weeks admitting that they lied and that they saw no evidence of any election interference.

[Mawspam2]

2. What if Smartmatic uses the money to continue the pursuit...

...of the bigger and more expensive suit against FOX?

[OrangeJoe]

6. Not good enough

I seriously doubt they needed the funds to get more attorneys on board. Most attorneys work on a contingent, getting paid with a portion of the settlement if they win and getting nothing up front. Given that Smartmatic has both OAN and Fox dead to rights and looking at the results of Dominion's suits I'm sure Smartmatic has attorneys knocking on their door wanting to get in on this.

No unfortunately this is corporate America and the legal profession at their worst. They want the money and will give the crooks the benefit of not having to apologize in exchange for more money (much of which comes from insurance policies). Dominion didn't do much better accepting weak ass statements and a big ol' pile of dineros.

[TeamProg]

7. Exactly what I was thinking. Good lawyers are $$$$$! nt

[Mysterian]

8. LOL

Smartmatic is a corporation. Corporations exist to make money. OAN paid more to keep shit under wraps. Fox will pay a lot more.

[OrangeJoe]

10. Corporations duty

This whole idea that corporations exist ONLY to maximize shareholder value is a fairly recent phenomena dating from Reagan's "Greed is Good" 1980's philosophy. Corporations also have a duty to their employees and the community. Any business involved in elections should have an even higher standard to ensure that the results of elections are accepted by the electorate. Letting these liars off the hook just to bank a few more bucks is a short term strategy that could end up costing the C suite guys running these businesses to face real threats the next time they are accused of cheating.

[Torchlight]

3. Might bear watching for any personnel changes at the network in the coming weeks.

fluctuations in stock price, and changes in board membership.

[jimfields33]

12. Inspired

[oasis]

4. Take the money. OAN viewers

are steadfastly embedded in Trumpism.
No apologies by the fake news establishment will sway them into rational thought.

[OrangeJoe]

11. Exactly right

You are exactly right the MAGAs don't believe the mainstream media. This is why it is essential that any settlements with the various right wing media outlets included a strong requirement that thy make repeated broadcasts admitting they lied and that the elections were free and fair. If Fox, OAN, and other right wing nut jobs had to read one statement on the air for every time they broadcast lies it might help at least a few MAGAs see the light.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Both Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems

still have a bunch of outstanding suits left including Ghouliani I believe!

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

9. They're still on an OTA digital channel here