In a courtroom declaration on Tuesday, Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News revealed they had reached a last-minute settlement in the highly publicized defamation case.

The agreement was reached as both parties were on the verge of delivering opening statements in Wilmington, Delaware.

After the jury was sworn in, an unexpected delay led to speculation that a settlement was being negotiated.

Key implications of the Settlement

The agreement prevents the case from proceeding to trial. Executives and on-air personalities will not be compelled to testify regarding the network’s coverage of the 2020 election.

“The parties have resolved their case,” Delaware superior Court Judge eric Davis said. “Your presence here… was extremely important.”

The details of the settlement have not been disclosed.

Background of the Lawsuit

Dominion sought $1.6 billion in damages, alleging that the broadcasting company’s coverage of the 2020 election caused significant financial harm. Fox News contended that the damages claim was overblown and that their reporting was protected by press freedoms.

The broadcasting company maintained that it did not defame Dominion and that its coverage was not driven by a desire to boost ratings.

Ongoing Litigation

While the Dominion case is resolved, Fox News still faces another defamation lawsuit from Smartmatic, another voting technology company that alleges it was defamed. That case remains in the discovery phase.