"Judge Permits Fox Corp. to Proceed with Counterclaim in Smartmatic Defamation Suit"

A New York judge has allowed Smartmatic's $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox Corporation to proceed, rejecting the network's attempt to dismiss the case. The judge also refused to dismiss Fox's counterclaim against Smartmatic, stating that the damages claim may be designed to chill the network's First Amendment rights. Smartmatic alleges that Rupert Murdoch and Lachlan Murdoch played a role in broadcasting defamatory statements, while Fox argues that the damages claim is implausible and disconnected from reality. The case is expected to go to trial in 2025.