Fox has paid a price, in both cash and reputational harm. The case didn’t give us the dramatic public trial that might have been, but at least there was a great deal of deposition testimony and other discovery material put on the record. That’s ultimately a win for society, even if it was less dramatic and satisfying than we might have hoped.

And more cases are still in process.

Also, while the settlement amount was about half of the $1.6B that Dominion asked for, it was by no means assured that that's what a jury would have actually awarded, or that a large award wouldn't be reduced by the judge or on appeal.

The damages aspects of the case were complicated, and would likely have involved fairly involved expert testimony by economists, with reasonable arguments for both large and small numbers.

Taking the $787 million was probably a very rational decision.

It's important to remember this was a civil case, not a criminal one. Even if the jury thinks Fox deserves to be punished, the only thing they can do is award cash. They can't send anyone to jail, or force Fox to apologize or admit wrongdoing. Just pay money.

If there had been a trial, we would have learned a bit more and presumably gotten to watch some Fox witnesses squirm a bit. And that would have been fun, but ultimately this case was about how much, if anything, Fox has to pay Dominion.