A New York judge dismissed Tony Bobulinski’s $30 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News co-host Jessica Tarlov and ordered him to pay her legal fees. The court ruled that Bobulinski’s claims did not meet the legal requirements for defamation and upheld Tarlov’s defense under New York’s anti-SLAPP law, which protects against meritless lawsuits aimed at silencing free speech.
The lawsuit stemmed from a comment Tarlov made on “The Five” in January, suggesting that a Trump Super PAC paid for Bobulinski’s legal fees. After Tarlov clarified and corrected her statement, Bobulinski demanded a retraction and apology. When that didn’t happen, he filed the lawsuit, seeking damages for defamation.
Fox News defended Tarlov, asserting that her correction was accurate and that no further retraction was necessary. The court sided with Tarlov, concluding that Bobulinski had failed to prove harm to his reputation or business, as required for a defamation claim.
Judge Oetken’s ruling marks a significant decision in favor of free speech, with Fox News celebrating the outcome as a victory in fighting against meritless legal claims.
