Fox Corp (FOXA.O), opens new tab, the parent of Fox News Network, failed to convince a New York state appeals court to dismiss a defamation claim in electronic voting systems company Smartmatic's $2.7 billion lawsuit over the network's 2020 post-election coverage. A five-judge panel of the Appellate Division in Manhattan ruled on Thursday that Smartmatic sufficiently alleged the Fox parent was directly liable for on-air statements suggesting Smartmatic helped rig the 2020 U.S. presidential election to favor Democrat Joe Biden over Republican Donald Trump.

Faux is hoping Aileen Cannon will ride to the rescue.