Tony Bobulinski’s $30 million defamation suit against Fox News host Jessica Tarlov was dismissed on Tuesday by a New York judge, who also ordered Bobulinski to pay Tarlov’s legal fees in a first-of-its-kind decision.
“Before the Court is Tarlov’s motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim and motion for attorney’s fees under New York’s anti-SLAPP law. For the reasons that follow, the motion to dismiss is granted. And because the Court concludes that the mandatory fee-shifting provision of New York’s anti-SLAPP law applies in federal court, Tarlov’s motion for attorney’s fees is also granted,” wrote District Judge J. Paul Oetken in his decision.
A spokesperson for the network told Mediaite in a statement, “FOX News is pleased with the court’s landmark decision, which not only dismissed Tony Bobulinski and Stefan Passantino’s meritless allegations against Jessica Tarlov, but also marks the first federal court decision to award attorney’s fees under New York’s anti-SLAPP statute.”
Bobulinski, a former associate of Hunter Biden, sued Tarlov in March over a comment she made on top-rated show The Five, on which she is a co-host. Tarlov, in an exchange with Judge Jeanine Pirro said, “Ok, Tony Bobulinski’s lawyers’ fees have been paid by a Trump Super PAC. That’s as recent as January.”
Bobulinski’s attorney Jesse Binall sent Fox Corp a letter the next day demanding a retraction and apology from Tarlov, threatening to “immediately file a defamation lawsuit against Fox, and Ms. Tarlov if this lie is not retracted by Ms. Tarlov on-air today.” The following day Tarlov addressed the statement on-air and offered a clarification.
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