Breaking: Settlement reached in Dominion defamation lawsuit against Fox News

A settlement has been reached in Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation case against Fox News, the judge announced Tuesday. The network will pay more than $787 million to Dominion, a lawyer for the company said.

The deal, which was apparently brokered while the trial was on the brink of opening statements, means the closely-watched case is effectively over and won’t proceed to trial. Details about the settlement have not been disclosed.

The election technology company was suing over the right-wing cable channel’s promotion of debunked conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election. The company needed to convince the jury that people at Fox acted with “actual malice.”

The judge had already rejected several First Amendment defenses that Fox hoped to invoke, and he further constrained Fox in a flurry of pretrial rulings last week.

Fox News-Dominion settlement totals more than $787 million, Dominion lawyer says

The settlement between Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems totals $787,500,000, according to Dominion attorney Justin Nelson.

The settlement represents “vindication and accountability,” Nelson said in a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

“The truth matters, lies have consequences,” Nelson said.

“Over two years ago, a torrent of lies swept Dominion and election officials across America into an alternative universe of conspiracy theories, causing grievous harm,” he added.