Smartmatic defamation lawsuit

Jury selection has begun in Smartmatic's defamation trial against Newsmax, marking the first of several lawsuits related to false claims about voting systems following the 2020 election. Smartmatic alleges that Newsmax aired defamatory statements implying the company was involved in rigging election results, while Newsmax defends its reports as covering newsworthy allegations from Trump allies. A Delaware judge has ruled that Smartmatic cannot seek punitive damages, citing a lack of evidence for 'express malice' from Newsmax, which means the jury can only consider actual malice. The ruling could significantly reduce potential damages if Smartmatic wins the case. Smartmatic argues that its definition of express malice differs from that of Newsmax, which it claims could still allow for punitive damages under different circumstances. The outcome of this trial may set precedents for future cases involving media outlets and defamation claims related to election integrity.