Judge Dismisses Newsmax's Antitrust Lawsuit Against Fox News, Allows Refiling

A federal judge in Florida has dismissed Newsmax's antitrust lawsuit against Fox News, citing technical deficiencies in the filing. Judge Aileen Cannon identified the complaint as a "shotgun pleading" because multiple counts incorporated all preceding allegations, leading to a convoluted structure. She has granted Newsmax until September 11 to submit an amended complaint that rectifies these issues.

Newsmax's lawsuit alleges that Fox News engaged in monopolistic practices to suppress competition within conservative media. The network claims that Fox coerced television distributors into excluding or limiting Newsmax's presence, pressured guests to avoid appearing on Newsmax, and employed private investigators to scrutinize Newsmax executives.

In response, Fox News stated, "Newsmax cannot sue their way out of their own competitive failures in the marketplace to chase headlines simply because they can't attract viewers."

Newsmax has indicated its intention to refile the lawsuit, viewing the dismissal as a procedural matter. The case is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.