A Fox Corp. shareholder sued Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch and several members of Fox Corp.’s Delaware board of directors Tuesday afternoon, alleging they violated their fiduciary duty to the company when they allowed Fox News to broadcast conspiracy theories. electoral.
The derivative action, a kind of lawsuit brought by shareholders who believe the corporation wronged them, was brought by a single plaintiff, Robert Schwarz.
“The Board’s decision to go after viewers by promoting stolen false election claims has exposed the Company to public ridicule and has negatively affected the credibility of Fox News as a media organization that is supposed to accurately report election events. newsworthy. The Company is now the subject of two defamation cases, with combined damages exceeding $4 billion,” the lawsuit alleges.
The suit builds on the trove of internal communications, documents and evidence made public in Dominion Voting Systems’ sweeping $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News and Fox Corp., which has revealed that many at Fox News knew the rigged election claims were false even when allowed for continuous broadcast.
“FOX knew, from the Board on down, that Fox News was reporting false and dangerous misinformation about the 2020 presidential election, but FOX was more concerned about short-term ratings and market share than long-term damage. for not informing the public. true,» the presentation continues.
Lawyers for Dominion Voting Systems have argued in their court documents that Fox executives raised the election conspiracy theories because they feared they would lose their hearing after Donald Trump’s defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
Fox News has denied defaming Dominion Voting Systems, arguing that its broadcasts and social media posts are protected by the First Amendment.
Schwarz’s lawyers declined to comment in an email. Fox News and Fox Corp. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
bloomberg law recently reported that several firms are seeking derivative actions against Fox Corp. board members.