A New York state appeals court rejected Fox Corp. bid to throw out a defamation lawsuit by Smartmatic over false claims that the voting technology company helped rig the 2020 presidential election. The ruling on Thursday allows the case to proceed toward trial.

A New York appellate court declined to toss Fox Corp. from Smartmatic’s $2.7 billion defamation case. Smartmatic sued Fox News and Fox Corp. following the 2020 presidential election, claiming that on-air personalities and guests amplified false claims that it was involved in rigging the ballots.

The latest ruling represents a key victory for Smartmatic’s efforts to go after the right-wing media outlet over its promotion of debunked claims that the election was stolen from former President