Gregg Jarrett: Meta’s Social Media Addiction Case Is a ‘No-Brainer’ Because the Trial Was in One of the Most Liberal Districts in America

EXCERPT:

JARRETT: "You know, Meta has been smart to institute barriers and limits and controls, particularly controls that parents can invoke on their children’s platforms. But look, as far as the settlement is concerned, this was a no-brainer. The trial was in Oakland, California. That is one of the most liberal districts in America. Jurors there dislike large corporations, and they inevitably award inflated damages. Meta knew the fix was in. In fact, that’s why the plaintiffs, the 29 attorneys general, chose, of all places in the U.S., Oakland, California. They went forum shopping and they gained an unbeatable advantage which they got. So, faced with the inexorable, Meta settled, which made financial sense because, yeah, $18 billion sounds like a big number, but it’s actually a small percentage of the company’s gross profit, which last year was about $165 billion. They can also write it down on the balance sheet, lowering their taxable income. So, financially, it was a smart move.”