BBC asks judge to toss Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit
The British broadcaster contends the president can’t sue in Florida over a 2020 election documentary.
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A BBC spokesperson stated the documentary was never aired in Florida or the U.S. on iPlayer, online, or any streaming platforms including BritBox and BBC Select.
"'We have said throughout we will robustly defend the case against us. Put simply — the documentary was never aired in Florida — or the U.S. It wasn't available to watch in the U.S. on iPlayer, online or any other streaming platforms including BritBox and BBC Select,' a network spokesperson said Monday."
The BBC issued a public apology to Trump last year as he threatened legal action over the program.
"The BBC's legal pleading acknowledges, but largely downplays, the network's public apology to Trump last year as he threatened legal action over the program."
The BBC filed a motion to dismiss Donald Trump's $10 billion libel lawsuit in Florida federal court on Monday.
"The British Broadcasting Corp. is urging a federal judge to throw out a libel lawsuit Donald Trump filed last year accusing the network of airing a documentary that distorted his remarks on Jan. 6, 2021 to make it sound like he explicitly urged his supporters to launch a violent assault on the Capitol."
Trump's lawsuit seeks more than $10 billion in damages, although paperwork accompanying the filing put the figure at $5 billion.
"Trump's legal team has said the lawsuit seeks more than $10 billion in damages, although paperwork accompanying the filing put the figure at $5 billion."
The BBC argues the court lacks jurisdiction over the London-based broadcaster because it didn't distribute the program in the U.S. and subsidiaries don't operate in Florida.
"In a motion filed Monday with Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based U.S. District Judge Roy Altman, lawyers for the BBC contend that the court there lacks jurisdiction over the London-based broadcaster because it did not distribute the program in the U.S. and the subsidiaries involved don't operate in Florida."
Judge Roy Altman rejected the BBC's motion to stave off fact-finding in the case last month, until the network's motion to throw out the lawsuit is resolved.
"Last month, Altman, a Trump appointee, rejected the BBC's motion to stave off fact-finding in the case until the network's motion to throw out the lawsuit is resolved."