Bill O’Reilly just scored a major victory after a judge tossed out a defamation case filed against him by a disgruntled former producer for Fox News.
O’Reilly – who starred in America’s top-rated news broadcast on Fox for 16 years before starting his own podcasts – was accused by ex-producer Rachel Bernstein along with several other women of a total of 12 defamatory statements, which had ultimately got him ousted at Fox News.
All the while, O’Reilly denied the accusations, calling them a “hit job” and pointing out that Bernstein was “politically and financially motivated.”
Now, Judge Deborah Watts had thrown out the case against O’Reilly, finally giving him justice in the situation.
Check out the breaking news of the victory for Bill O’Reilly that hit Twitter:
Bloomberg has more details on O'Reilly's victory:
Former Fox News star Bill O’Reilly won’t have to face a lawsuit by an ex-producer who said he defamed her with comments following a New York Times report that five women got payments from the network to avoid litigation involving the host.
Rachel Witlieb Bernstein sued O’Reilly in December 2017 claiming that the host, who was forced out at Fox over allegations of sexual harassment, defamed her when he said no Fox employees had used a company hot line to object to his behavior. She said there was no such hot line and that she had repeatedly complained to executives about him. According to the lawsuit, she agreed to settle in July 2002 claims she’d made against O’Reilly and Fox that included discrimination.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts in Manhattan dismissed the suit. O’Reilly assailed Bernstein as “politically motivated” and made other such comments, the judge said. But she called the comments “loose and hyperbolic” and noted that he didn’t accuse her of a crime or harm her in other ways.
The Hollywood Reporter added:
Bill O'Reilly has defeated a defamation lawsuit brought by one of the women who has accused him of sexual misconduct.
Rachel Witlieb Bernstein in December 2017 sued O'Reilly, Fox News and 21st Century Fox, claiming public statements made in connection with reports of settled sexual harassment claims painted her as an extortionate, politically motivated liar. She also alleged that the statements violated the non-disparagement and confidentiality provisions of her 2002 settlement.
The court dismissed Bernstein's complaint in March, but gave her an opportunity to amend her claims against O'Reilly. This time, U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts is tossing the matter for good.
Batts recaps a series of 12 statements that O'Reilly made in 2017 to various news outlets, including Fox News, The Hollywood Reporter and The New York Times, that Bernstein claims are defamatory. She then notes that to meet the standard of defamation under New York law, a plaintiff must allege defamation per se or a special harm, neither of which she finds Bernstein did successfully.
Newsmax also said:
Veteran broadcaster Bill O’Reilly scored a major victory in U.S. District Court in Manhattan this week as a judge threw out a defamation lawsuit filed against him by a disgruntled ex-TV producer.
Judge Deborah Batts on Thursday dismissed former Fox News producer Rachel Bernstein’s suit which claimed O’Reilly – forced out at Fox News after allegations by several women including Bernstein – made 12 defamatory statements about her in the media.
After Bernstein’s complaints first surfaced, O’Reilly defended himself, saying the claims were a “hit job”' and that Bernstein was “politically and financially motivated.”
O’Reilly’s lawyer Andrew Bourne said in a statement: “Mr. O’Reilly has drawn the line. He will fight hard to protect his family and his reputation, and we’re pleased that Judge Batts once again saw the suit for what it is by dismissing it with prejudice.’’
O’Reilly -- a bestselling author whose latest book is “The United States of Trump: How the President Really Sees America,” -- led America’s highest-rated cable news broadcast for 16 consecutive years on Fox.
O’Reilly now hosts his podcast on Billoreilly.com as well as a weekly show -- “No Spin News” — on Newsmax TV.
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