ToplineDominion Voting Systems can continue with its defamation lawsuits against Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani, and MyPillow, as a federal judge ruled Wednesday. The Trump allies' motions to have the multi-billion-dollar litigation dismissed over procedural issues and claims that the plaintiffs didn't defame Dominion by their discredit allegations that the company was involved the election fraud that brought down the election to Joe Biden were dismissed.Sidney Powell (R), speaks at a press conference after the election with Rudy Giuliani. ASSOCIATED PRSThe Key FactsU.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols dismissed the motions of Powell, Lindell, and Giulianis to dismiss the suit on every count. He also struck down Giulianis' argument that the case should be thrown out for technical procedural reasons. If they move forward, Powell and Lindells arguments that their cases should be transferred from Washington, D.C. to Texas and Minnesota courts. Dominion couldn't prove that the fraud allegations were made with actual malice, which Powell and Lindell claimed they could not sue for defamation. Nichols rejected those arguments and wrote in his opinion that Dominion had sufficient evidence to prove Powell and Lindell's fraud claims. He also stated that Dominion could not prove that the allegations were made with actual malice knowing they were false.Important QuoteNichols ruled that a reasonable juror could conclude Powell's claims of election fraud were statements of fact or opinions that implied or relied on facts that were proven false.Big Number$1.3 billion Dominion seeks damages from Powell, Lindell, and Giuliani in their respective lawsuits against Dominion. However, Dominions lawyers have suggested that this could be an underestimation given the ongoing harm to the company.Important BackgroundDominion sued Powell for defamation in January. This was after Powell, a far-right lawyer, became the most prominent advocate of conspiracy theories regarding the company. She made widespread allegations of election fraud and led Trump's campaign and administration to distance themselves. After filing two more lawsuits against Giuliani, Lindell, and MyPillow, Dominion filed a fourth lawsuit against Fox News. It also filed additional lawsuits Tuesday against Newsmax and One America News. Fox News also moved to dismiss its lawsuit against it. This is being done separately from the three other suits. Despite billion-dollar lawsuits, Powell and Lindell continue to claim Dominion was involved with election fraud. In April, Powell stated that she believed everything I said. Lindell promotes his election fraud claims through numerous documentaries and in-person rallies.What to WatchThe Dominion ruling will likely affect Lindell and MyPillows separate countersuits against Dominion. These have been placed on hold while Nichols decides whether Dominions lawsuits can move forward. Dominions lawsuit against Fox News continues in state court. Powell, Giuliani, and Lindell may also play a part there. Dominion issued subpoenas for the three Trump allies asking them to turn over any communications with Fox News regarding Dominion as part the lawsuit.TangentSmartmatic, a voting machine company, has filed its own defamation suit against Powell, Giuliani and Fox News. This is in relation to fraud claims that were made about their machines. In New York state court, the GOP plaintiffs also filed a motion to dismiss this suit.Continue readingSidney Powell and Mike Lindell Claim Dominion Defamation Lawsuits Should be Tossed, Because They Believe Conspiracy Claims to Be True (Forbes).Dominion Subpoenas Sidney Powell, Mike Lindell in Lawsuit Against Fox News. (Forbes).Here's Who OANN and Newsmax Have Sued After LawsuitsIt's not just Michigan: Pro-Trump Attorneys could be Punished for Kraken Lawsuits (Forbes).
