Coomer is Funding his Fight Alone without the resources of a corporation. His Family and Friends have set up a GoFundMe to Get Him to His ‘Day in court’
The settlement of the defamation suit announced earlier this week between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News surprised many, but probably shouldn’t have. While many are saying they are disappointed that Dominion didn’t take a stronger stance “standing up for democracy,” that wasn’t the point.
Dr. Eric Coomer, Vice President of Product Strategy for Dominion Voting Systems had to keep traveling as the COVID-19 pandemic surged to prepare for the 2020 election. Then due to death threats, he had to go into hiding and quit his career. Courtesy photo.
The point was to hold Fox News accountable for the damage from their lies about Dominion, its voting systems, and its employees. In a civil case in this country, money equals accountability. In this case, it was 787.5 million dollars; the largest defamation settlement in the history of the U.S.
As has been covered extensively by national news media, Fox News and friends such as Mike Lindell, Rudy Giuliani, and others face several more defamation cases from corporations. But they, along with former president Donald Trump, also face separate civil suits from individuals who it has been reported incurred harm from the “Big Lie” perpetrated about the 2020 election and as part of that, damage to these individual’s lives and reputations.
One of them is local Salida resident Eric Coomer, Ph.D., former Director of Product Strategy and Security, at Dominion Voting Systems.
He had to leave his job and go into hiding due to the threats (including a $1 million bounty on his head) by right-wing conspiracy believers that the election had been stolen.
On December 22, 2020, Ark Valley Voice reported that as a result, he filed a defamation suit against several media outlets and other purveyors of the lie that the election was stolen.
Coomer issued the following statement this morning regarding the Dominion v. Fox News settlement:
“I am encouraged by the settlement announced Tuesday in Dominion’s defamation case against Fox News. Some may be disappointed the settlement didn’t include an apology by Fox for making and airing false claims about Dominion rigging the election. Still, we should not forget that Judge Eric Davis, in his summary judgment, emphasized it was ‘CRYSTAL clear’ that none of the allegations about Dominion aired by the network were true.”
“As the former director of product strategy and security for Dominion, I was one of the early targets of conspiracy theorists and media outlets who took aim at election equipment providers because they didn’t like the presidential election results. Their efforts to sow doubt and lies about Dominion’s voting machine integrity, along with continued harassment and death threats, forced me to leave a 16-year career in an industry I love.”
“While I can no longer speak on behalf of Dominion, I commend company leaders for acknowledging the personal and professional toll that the ordeal has had on current and former Dominion employees and customers. I look forward to proving my own legal claims in the lawsuits I have personally filed against the originators and peddlers of ‘The Big Lie’ and about me and my role at Dominion.”
Coomer is represented by Cain & Skarnulis PLLC, attorneys with offices in Austin Texas, and Salida, Colorado. His attorney Charlie Cain has taken depositions from all the major players who contributed to the defamation of Coomer and issued the following statement this morning:
My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell gets served with a defamation lawsuit at the steps of the Colorado State Capitol from Dr. Eric Coomer.
“While Dr. Coomer’s lawsuits go through the judicial process, he remains steadfast in his quest for justice and to get his cases before a jury. To date, various courts have denied motions to dismiss made by defendants Mike Lindell, OAN, the Trump Campaign, Rudy Giuliani, Sydney Powell, Joe Oltmann, Eric Metaxas, Salem Media, and many others. In no instance has a court sided with the defendants.”
“Although Dr. Coomer was still employed by Dominion when many of the defendants in his lawsuits defamed him, he will not receive any of the 787.5-million-dollar settlement awarded to Dominion by Fox. He is funding his fight alone without the resources of a corporation. It is why his family and friends have set up a GoFundMe account to support him. They hope others who believe in holding the defendants accountable will join them.”
Defamation filings on behalf of Coomer have been filed in both Colorado and federal court. The GoFundMe page filed by William Coomer on behalf of Eric Coomer Ph.D. can be reached following this link: Fundraiser by Willian Coomer: Justice for Eric Coomer (gofundme.com)
It’s a tough order to sue the former president of the United States, Donald Trump. But that is exactly what Coomer is doing; alleging that Trump was in effect, the leader of the lies. The latest court proceeding in Colorado on the case is available here: Order Regarding All Defendants’ Special Motions to Dismiss Pursuant to C.R.S. 13-20-1101
I wish Mr. Coomer well and it’s too bad that he chose a town so willing to expose his location for right wing brownie points. His company should have looked out for him and I imagine that is devastating after such hard work and horrible attacks by a horrible administration. I am glad he is encouraged by the FOX suit. I don’t believe that suit will solve any problems or bring any justice, nor do I believe it restores the integrity of the company to the public unless the details are publicized and FOX eliminated as ‘news’ for the 30 % or so of this country that are still not going to listen. Their reputation will remain damaged with all of the awarded money and there is no justice in allowing FOX to continue with only financial penalties. I hope that Mr. Coomer gets justice. I don’t believe there is such a thing in this country any more. I hope he proves me wrong.
Thanks for this, Jan. Are you aware that Fox can claim a tax write-off as an expense – as much as $213 MIL of the settlement – thanks to our tax laws for the rich? I was surprisingly shocked. Nothing should shock me anymore that benefits the rich in this country. It’s by design. They’re in control, and they pass laws to benefit themselves, notwithstanding any harm to anyone else.
https://www.levernews.com/fox-can-claim-tax-writeoff-for-defamation-settlement/?utm_source=newsletter-email&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=newsletter-article
I’m sure you are aware of the reporting of David Sirota’s The Lever. (I subscribe.)
Barb Tidd, Salida, CO
slvbarb498@gmail.com
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