Fox News is one of the biggest names in American media. Viewers tune in every day to the conservative news network to catch up on what’s going on in the world and hear like-minded takes on politics. However, the media outlet has faced several lawsuits over the years, making people question the value it places on “the truth.”
A significant number of these lawsuits came in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. As Fox News aired claims of election fraud and conspiracy theories, it became entangled in legal disputes with individuals and companies who argued that the network spread false and damaging information. These defamation cases have resulted in some of the largest settlements in media history.
Beyond defamation, Fox News has also faced lawsuits related to workplace harassment, discrimination, and other internal issues. We’re going to walk you through ten of the most shocking lawsuits filed against Fox News. Some of these cases have resulted in settlements and others in dismissals, but all of them work against the reputation of the news network.
Dominion Voting Systems Defamation Case
Dominion Voting Systems’ hardware and software were used in the November 2020 presidential election to cast ballots and record vote counts. After his loss, President Donald Trump and his team claimed the election was rigged and the systems were used to switch or erase votes.
Fox News allowed this misinformation to spread by allowing guests and hosts to share false and damaging claims without retraction or correction. Dominion sued Fox in March 2021 for defamation and received a $787.5 million settlement, one of the largest for defamation to date.
Smartmatic Defamation Lawsuit
The Dominion case isn’t the only defamation lawsuit Fox News has faced because of their actions following the 2020 presidential election. Smartmatic, another election systems company, faced the same false claims of tampering and is currently suing the network for $2.7 billion.
It’s said that Fox News allowed the conspiracy theories to spread like wildfire to keep their audience, which was threatening to tun out because of reports of Joe Biden’s win. The case is still ongoing, with Fox claiming the company is exaggerating damages to get a payout.
Venezuelan Businessman Defamation Lawsuit
Venezuelan businessman Majed Khalil filed a defamation lawsuit in 2021, alleging that Fox and former host Lou Dobbs falsely accused him of orchestrating a scheme to rig the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
The claims, aired on Fox Business and Twitter, included allegations that Khalil was involved in a "cyber Pearl Harbor" against the United States. A judge had ruled in February 2022 that the case had standing, rejecting Fox's motion to dismiss. The lawsuit was resolved with a confidential settlement.
Abby Grossberg Lawsuits
In March 2023, Abby Grossberg, a former Fox News producer, filed lawsuits against the network, alleging gender discrimination and a toxic workplace. She also claimed Fox lawyers pressured her to lie during the Dominion Voting Systems case.
She was fired after speaking out about her mistreatment. On June 30, 2023, Fox News settled the lawsuits for $12 million. Grossberg's allegations included inappropriate behavior by Tucker Carlson's team and a hostile work environment.
Gavin Newsom Defamation Lawsuit
California Governor Gavin Newsom is currently suing Fox News for, you guessed it, defamation. In June 2025, Newsom filed a $787 million lawsuit claiming host Jesse Waters knowingly and falsely claimed Newsom lied about a phone call with Trump.
The lawsuit said Fox News “operates as a propaganda machine for President Trump’s radical right-wing agenda.” It goes on to say, “Setting the record straight and confronting Fox’s dishonest practices are critical to protecting democracy from being overrun by disinformation and lies.” Newsom is demanding an on-air apology from Waters.
Newsmax Antitrust Lawsuit
Newsmax, a fellow conservative news network, filed an antitrust lawsuit against Fox News in September 2025. The network accused Fox of using its monopoly power to suppress the competition.
Allegations include pressuring distributors to exclude Newsmax and hiring private detectives to investigate its executives. The lawsuit was dismissed by a Florida federal judge just a day after it was filed based on a technical error, but Newsmax can refile.
Gretchen Carlson Harassment Suit
Fox News has proved to be a toxic and dangerous work environment for a lot of female employees. In July 2016, former “Fox & Friends” host Gretchen Carlson filed a s. harassment lawsuit against Fox News chairman Roger Ailes.
Carlson claimed Ailes sabotaged her career after she rejected his romantic advances. Days after the suit was filed, Ailes stepped down from his position as CEO despite denying the claims. Fox reportedly paid a $20 million settlement.
Andrea Tantaros Lawsuit
Andrea Tantaros, a former Fox News host, filed a lawsuit in August 2016, claiming she faced s. harassment from top executives, including Roger Ailes. She alleged she was punished for speaking out and removed from her job.
Tantaros also accused Fox News of spying on her and using fake social media accounts to harass her. In 2018, a judge dismissed Tantaros' case, stating her claims were “vague, speculative and conclusory.”
Seth Rich Conspiracy Theory Lawsuit
Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich was murdered in July 2016. Fox falsely reported in May 2017 that Rich had leaked Democratic party emails during the 2016 presidential election and suggested Democrats could be connected to his death.
Rich’s family sued Fox News for promoting this conspiracy theory and holding them back from being able to properly mourn. The network settled for an undisclosed amount in 2020.
Karen McDougal Defamation Case
Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model, sued Fox News for defamation based on comments made by Tucker Carlson on his show “Tucker Carlson Tonight” in December 2018, where he claimed McDougal tried to extort money from Donald Trump.
Lawyers for Fox argued no “reasonable viewer” would take Carlson seriously, and the judge agreed. The case was dismissed with the judge ruling that Carlson’s comments were shared opinions, not facts.
