Smartmatic and Newsmax agree on voting technology company election defamation suit The lawsuit filed against the right-wing news agency was about to go to trial.
The directed to the claim About Newsmax’s false claims that Smartmatic machines rigged the 2020 presidential election for Joe Biden.
A trial was scheduled to begin Monday, with a jury expected to consider whether Newsmax defamed Smartmatic by making claims with actual malice or reckless disregard for the truth, whether it harmed the company, and whether damages should be awarded.
Samira Saba, a spokeswoman for Smartmatic, said Thursday that the company is “pleased to bring the case against Newsmax to a close.”
“Lying to the American people has consequences,” Saba said in a statement. “Smartmatic will not stop until the perpetrators are held accountable.”
Newsmax said in the statement said the lawsuit was settled “in a confidential settlement.”
Details of the settlement were not immediately available.
Smartmatic sued Newsmax Media in 2021, alleging that Smartmatic devices rigged the 2020 election. Newsmax claimed to be reporting on newsworthy events and maintained that some of the claims were true.
Former President Donald Trump and his allies have continued to promote false claims that the results of the 2020 election were rigged in Biden’s favor. Since Trump’s loss nearly four years ago, his lawyers have pointed to Smartmatic as a prime target to bolster their case.
Smartmatic in April made a similar solution slander claim against One America News for an undisclosed amount. The company is still a legal battle against Fox News that could go to trial next year.
Fox News’ parent company, Fox Corp., agreed to pay last year $787.5 million Another election technology company, Dominion Voting Systems, was scheduled to go to trial that day to settle defamation claims.