Mike Lindell Ordered to Pay $2.3 Million in Defamation Suit to Former Dominion Employee
A federal jury in Colorado has found MyPillow founder Mike Lindell liable for defaming Eric Coomer, a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems. Lindell was ordered to pay $2.3 million in damages after calling Coomer a traitor and falsely accusing him of rigging the 2020 election.
Background of the Lawsuit
Eric Coomer sued Lindell, MyPillow, and Lindell’s social media platform, FrankSpeech, following statements made by Lindell that were broadcast through FrankSpeech. Lindell claimed Coomer was involved in election fraud, accusations that Coomer asserted damaged his career and personal life. Newsmax previously apologized to Coomer in 2021 for airing false allegations against him.
Court Ruling and Key Findings
U.S. District Judge Nina Wang denied Lindell’s motion to overturn the jury’s verdict, finding that Lindell and FrankSpeech actively promoted election fraud narratives and that Lindell was directly responsible for the platform’s actions. The judge noted Lindell regularly acted as a corporate representative for FrankSpeech, hosting shows and making statements about Coomer on the platform. CBS News reported on the ruling.
The court as well determined that David Clements, another election denier, acted as an agent of FrankSpeech when he echoed accusations against Coomer at Lindell’s 2021 Cyber Symposium. This finding meant FrankSpeech was not protected under Section 230 of the Consumer Decency Act, which typically shields platforms from liability for user-generated content.
Damages and Legal Arguments
While the jury declined to award punitive damages, Judge Wang rejected the argument that this meant Lindell did not act with actual malice. She also denied a motion by Coomer to increase damages, finding insufficient evidence that subsequent statements were specifically defamatory towards him or sponsored by FrankSpeech.
Concerns Regarding Legal Filings
Judge Wang criticized Lindell’s attorneys, Christopher Kachouroff and Jennifer DeMaster, for repeated misattributions of court cases in their filings. She ordered them to appear at a hearing to explain why they should not be sanctioned or referred to their bar associations for disciplinary action. The Associated Press detailed these concerns.
Ongoing Legal Battles
Coomer is also involved in a separate defamation lawsuit against the Trump campaign and former Trump lawyers Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, with a trial scheduled for April. Dominion Voting Systems also won a $787 million settlement against Fox News over similar false claims.