A Delaware

court

court rejected

a motion from

Fox news’

movement

to dismiss Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6 billion defamation suit against the network

on Friday

,

take the case to court. A jury is called

determine

or

the network committed real malice when it presented false allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election.

Judge Eric M. Davis’ ruling issued Friday granted Dominion’s

twist movement

that Fox News published false information about the voting machine company in the weeks following the election

,

when

outgoing foreman

President Donald Trump and his allies scattered

the false error

accusations.

“The evidence developed in this civil suit shows it is clear to CRYSTAL that none of Dominion’s statements regarding the 2020 election are true,” Davis wrote.

in order

.

In the aftermath of the election,

Trump’s attorney repeatedly said Dominion manipulated votes to influence the vote

election race

to President Joe Biden

made together with and

other false statements about company ownership.

But

Davis has not provided Dominion with a summary judgment on the company’s claims that Fox News acted maliciously when it presented the untruths, a matter that will now be investigated

weighed during the trial decided by a jury

. The jury will also decide whether Dominion is entitled to any damages.

“The parties generated a record of disputed material facts,” Davis wrote.

The decision now puts the case on track for a The

jury trial in Delaware

is expected to begin

April 17, in what is likely to be a media frenzy.

Executives and high-profile Fox News anchors, who have already given explosive testimonials, could

now

are called to the witness stand to discuss their actions publicly and under oath.

“We are pleased with the Court’s thorough ruling that soundly rejects all of Fox’s arguments and defenses, and that their statements about Dominion are false under the law,” said a spokesman.

Dominion representative for Dominion

said. “We look forward to the trial.”

A Fox News representative said: This case is and has always been about the protection of the media’s absolute right to cover the news through the First Amendment. Fox will continue to vigorously advocate for the rights of free speech and a free press as we move into the next phase of this process.

Fox News has argued

That

the allegations presented to the network by Trump and his lawyers were newsworthy, even if untrue, and that the network’s reporting was protected by the First Amendment.

The company cited the neutral reporting privilege, which protects media organizations from libel claims if they accurately and objectively report newsworthy allegations against public figures as part of an ongoing controversy.

Davis rejected that defense, saying it failed to shield Fox News from liability.

The Dominion legal team countered that Fox News has gone far beyond that realm

because

it presented the claims of voter fraud and Dominion’s alleged involvement well after the

accusations

were fired by government agencies, producers and journalists within the network.

Davis ruled “it is established” that Fox News aired the statements and that in libel claims, anyone who participates in obtaining, drafting and publishing libel is responsible and equally responsible.