Stossel, Meta Reach Settlement in 9th Circuit Social-Media Appeal

Journalist John Stossel and Meta stipulated to the voluntary dismissal with prejudice of Stossel’s appeal of a lower court’s dismissal of his social media complaint, said their joint motion Monday (docket 22-16765) in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The parties agreed each side will bear its own costs and fees on appeal, it said. Stossel alleged Meta improperly labeled his Facebook videos about climate change as containing misinformation, causing irreparable damage to his reputation and costing him reduced viewership and advertising revenue (see 2212140031). A magistrate judge dismissed his complaint on grounds that Stossel’s claims were barred by the Communications Decency Act. The former 20/20 and Fox Business TV journalist now runs the online channel Stossel TV. Stossel’s appeal had been in mediation, pushing back the deadline several times for filing his opening brief to April 21.