In a decisive ruling, a bankruptcy judge dismissed the case filed by the Gateway Pundit's publisher, Jim Hoft, effectively clearing the way for Georgia poll workers and a Dominion Voting Systems employee to proceed with their defamation lawsuits.
The blog, called out for allegedly disseminating conspiracy theories regarding vaccines and the 2020 election outcome, sought bankruptcy protection in April as a strategy to halt these legal actions.
Hoft's controversial admission of using company assets for personal luxuries like a condo and a Porsche Cayenne, coupled with his proposal to allocate $1.3 million from insurance and future revenues towards settlement, was rejected by the judge presiding in the Southern District of Florida. She emphasized that bankruptcy isn't intended to serve such purposes.
The plaintiffs—Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss from Georgia, along with Dominion’s Eric Coomer—falsely implicated by the Gateway Pundit in election fraud conspiracies, were affirmed their right to continue their state-court litigations. Judge Mindy Mora highlighted the absence of financial duress that would necessitate bankruptcy relief for TGP, pointing out that it remains solvent with no impending financial crises but merely faces litigation requiring its defense—a testament to the justice system at work.
Despite earning approximately $3 million annually over recent years with projections indicating similar performance in 2024, TGP's future now hangs in balance. The court speculated that should it be found liable for defamation, this might necessitate a significant editorial shift potentially leading to reduced site traffic and thereby impacting revenue streams.
This judgment marks yet another instance where individuals and entities face legal repercussions over their coverage of the 2020 elections. Notably, Dominion Voting Systems secured over $700 million from Fox News in a landmark settlement. Additionally, Freeman and Moss won a substantial verdict against Rudy Giuliani whose own bankruptcy filing was recently dismissed.
Rachel Strickland, representing Moss and Freeman, lauded the judge's decision while expressing intent to persistently pursue legal action against Hoft and his platform. Conversely, Bart Houston, representing TGP expressed dissent regarding some judicial findings but affirmed that TGP is evaluating its next moves carefully amidst ongoing legal challenges.
The blog, called out for allegedly disseminating conspiracy theories regarding vaccines and the 2020 election outcome, sought bankruptcy protection in April as a strategy to halt these legal actions.
Hoft's controversial admission of using company assets for personal luxuries like a condo and a Porsche Cayenne, coupled with his proposal to allocate $1.3 million from insurance and future revenues towards settlement, was rejected by the judge presiding in the Southern District of Florida. She emphasized that bankruptcy isn't intended to serve such purposes.
The plaintiffs—Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss from Georgia, along with Dominion’s Eric Coomer—falsely implicated by the Gateway Pundit in election fraud conspiracies, were affirmed their right to continue their state-court litigations. Judge Mindy Mora highlighted the absence of financial duress that would necessitate bankruptcy relief for TGP, pointing out that it remains solvent with no impending financial crises but merely faces litigation requiring its defense—a testament to the justice system at work.
Despite earning approximately $3 million annually over recent years with projections indicating similar performance in 2024, TGP's future now hangs in balance. The court speculated that should it be found liable for defamation, this might necessitate a significant editorial shift potentially leading to reduced site traffic and thereby impacting revenue streams.
This judgment marks yet another instance where individuals and entities face legal repercussions over their coverage of the 2020 elections. Notably, Dominion Voting Systems secured over $700 million from Fox News in a landmark settlement. Additionally, Freeman and Moss won a substantial verdict against Rudy Giuliani whose own bankruptcy filing was recently dismissed.
Rachel Strickland, representing Moss and Freeman, lauded the judge's decision while expressing intent to persistently pursue legal action against Hoft and his platform. Conversely, Bart Houston, representing TGP expressed dissent regarding some judicial findings but affirmed that TGP is evaluating its next moves carefully amidst ongoing legal challenges.
