Why was the Fox News defamation trial delayed?

Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis announced on Monday that the Fox-Dominion defamation trial will begin on Tuesday after the trial’s opening statements were abruptly postponed on Sunday evening. Although no mention was made of potential settlement talks, speculation surrounding a potential out-of-court settlement has grown due to the delay, compounded by Sunday’s Wall Street Journal report that Fox is attempting a last-second deal to avoid trial. The $1.6 billion lawsuit is the most significant libel fight in decades and could have alarming implications for media companies’ sweeping protection provided by the Supreme Court’s landmark First Amendment decision in New York Times v. Sullivan. Dominion Voting Systems' claim alleges that Fox News spread lies about Dominion machines being rigged, after the 2020 election, knowing that these claims were false or acting with carelessness towards their truth, it also alleges Fox News caused them economic harm. The case is consequential not only for Fox News' reputation and financial position, but also for those Supreme Court rulings' viability in future media-related cases.

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