Fox News sued for $2.7 billion by Smartmatic

Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Corp. and three of its popular anchors are the targets of a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit filed Thursday by a company that became a prominent subject of discredited theories about widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

Smartmatic, an election technology company, filed the suit in New York State Supreme Court on Thursday against the Fox Corp., Fox News and anchors Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro. As part of the same action, the company is suing Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, who made the case for election fraud as guests on Fox programs while representing former President Donald Trump.

In its 276-page complaint, Smartmatic argues that Giuliani and Powell “created a story about Smartmatic” and that “Fox joined the conspiracy to defame and disparage Smartmatic and its election technology and software.”

“The story turned neighbor against neighbor,” the complaint continues. “The story led a mob to attack the U.S. Capitol.”

Smartmatic is seeking damages of “no less than $2.7 billion,” the complaint says, and is requesting a jury trial. Its move against Fox follows two lawsuits filed last month by Dominion Voting Systems: one against Giuliani, the other against Powell. Dominion is another company named by conspiracy theorists claiming election fraud.

Smartmatic said in the complaint that the promotion of false claims on Fox “jeopardized” its “multibillion-dollar pipeline of business”; damaged its election technology and software businesses; and made it difficult for the company to get new business in the U.S.

“Fox News Media is committed to providing the full context of every story with in-depth reporting and clear opinion,” a spokesperson for Fox said. “We are proud of our 2020 election coverage and will vigorously defend this meritless lawsuit in court.”

Bartiromo, Dobbs, Pirro and Giuliani did not reply immediately to request for comment.