Dominion Settles $1.3B Defamation Suit Against Lindell
The voting machine company once known as Dominion Voting Systems has settled and dismissed its $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit against MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell, ending a case filed after the 2020 election.
The dismissal, entered in federal court in Washington, D.C., closes one of the highest-profile defamation fights tied to false claims that voting machines rigged the 2020 presidential race. The case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled, and each side agreed to pay its own legal costs.
Dominion sued Lindell in 2021, alleging he pushed false conspiracy theories that its machines flipped votes despite knowing the claims were lies, and that he used those lies to sell pillows. Lindell had claimed the machines rigged the 2020 election in favor of Joe Biden. When he was first sued, Lindell told WCCO he was "very happy" about the lawsuit, saying the truth would come out.
The company, CBS News reported, was acquired in October 2025 by St. Louis-based Liberty Vote, founded by former Republican elections director Scott Leiendecker, and later renamed. According to ABC News, Leiendecker served as the election director for the city of St. Louis until 2012. The company dropped the suit eight months after the change in ownership.
What the settlement says
Under the stipulation signed by attorneys for both sides, "Each party shall bear its own attorneys' fees, expenses, and costs," according to FOX 9, which cited the court filing. The filing did not explain the reasons for the dismissal or provide details about any potential settlement terms beyond that agreement.
A Liberty Vote spokesperson told WCCO, "The Parties have agreed to a confidential settlement in this matter." Reports differ on the exact filing date: FOX 9 and ABC News indicated the documents were entered Wednesday, June 24, while CBS News and MinnPost reported the development June 25.
Defamation suits like this one turn on proving a defendant made false statements of fact with the required degree of fault, a high bar that has shaped a wave of post-2020 election litigation. The mechanics of those claims, and the defenses available to speakers, are explained in TheCompleteLawyer's primer on how anti-SLAPP laws protect free speech from defamation lawsuits.
Lindell's response
Lindell, who is running for Minnesota governor as a Republican, called the resolution a "relief," he told ABC News. He told WCCO the lawsuit's end was a "big relief." He announced his run for governor last December and recently lost the state Republican Party's endorsement in the race, but has said he will continue to the primary.
Lindell drew a comparison to the largest settlement in the saga. "I wonder what Fox News thinks, when they settled for $787 million?" he said. "Maybe they should have held out."
Mounting financial and legal pressure
Lindell has faced mounting financial trouble in recent years. He told the Associated Press in 2023 that he was out of money and owed millions in unspecified legal fees. In January 2025, he was ordered to pay shipping company DHL $780,000 after it said the Shakopee-based MyPillow had violated their contract, CBS News reported.
He has also drawn other adverse rulings tied to his election claims. A jury last year awarded a former Dominion director $2.3 million after finding Lindell defamed him with claims of election fraud. A judge separately found that Lindell defamed the voting company Smartmatic with similar false claims, though a dollar amount for those damages has not been set. Lindell was earlier ordered to pay Smartmatic more than $50,000 in sanctions over what the court called a "frivolous" countersuit.
Where Dominion's other cases stand
The case was one of several Dominion brought after the 2020 election, when voting technology companies and public figures faced off in court over claims about election integrity. Fox News settled a similar suit for $787.5 million in 2023 after Dominion alleged the network broadcast unsubstantiated allegations that its software manipulated vote counts. Dominion's $1.3 billion lawsuit against former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani ended in September 2025 with an undisclosed settlement, MinnPost reported.
The mix of outcomes underscores how defamation awards can survive appeal, an issue now before the justices in a separate dispute over a $8.2 million defamation award sought by Roy Moore. Dominion machines were among the most widely used in the country, deployed in 27 states during the 2024 election. The company's pivot from plaintiff to settlement, eight months after changing ownership, draws a line under a legal campaign that produced some of the largest defamation recoveries in recent memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much was the lawsuit for?
Dominion sought $1.3 billion in damages from Mike Lindell and MyPillow, alleging he defamed the company with false claims that its machines rigged the 2020 election.
What does "dismissed with prejudice" mean?
A dismissal with prejudice permanently ends the case and bars the plaintiff from refiling the same claims. Both sides also agreed to pay their own attorneys' fees and costs.
Who owns the company now?
Dominion was acquired in October 2025 by St. Louis-based Liberty Vote, founded by former Republican elections director Scott Leiendecker, and later renamed.
How does this compare with the Fox News settlement?
Fox News settled a similar Dominion defamation suit for $787.5 million in 2023. The terms of the Lindell settlement were not disclosed beyond each side bearing its own costs.
Sources
Reporting compiled from court records and the cited source outlets.