The New York Supreme Court Appellate Division denied Fox News' request to dismiss a multibillion-dollar defamation lawsuit brought by Smartmatic. The voting-technology company claims that the news network spread false information that they helped "steal" the 2020 presidential election from Donald Trump. The $2.7 billion lawsuit accuses Fox News of amplifying unsupported and damaging claims from Trump's lawyers.

Smartmatic maintains that they played a valid and minimal role in the election. They believe that the ruling is a significant step towards holding Fox News accountable for spreading lies that have caused harm to their reputation. The company's goal is to receive compensation for the damages they have suffered, including the loss of business and reputation.

Fox News, on the other hand, has portrayed the lawsuit as an attack on freedom of the press. The network has expressed confidence that it will ultimately prevail in court, citing the importance of protecting journalism and free speech.

It remains to be seen what the ultimate outcome of the lawsuit will be. Still, this ruling shows Fox News that their hosts (who are not Journalists) are not free to spout utter bullshit, just because it goes along with the company’s political narrative.