Following CNN's recent defamation lawsuit loss, MSNBC is now preparing for its own legal battle. A $30 million lawsuit looms over the network, stemming from accusations made on programs hosted by Rachel Maddow, Nicolle Wallace, and Chris Hayes. The lawsuit revolves around allegedly "verifiably false" statements made about a Georgia doctor, Mahendra Amin, who was accused of performing unnecessary hysterectomies on immigrant women detained at the Irwin County Detention Center.

The trial is set to begin on April 22nd in Waycross, Georgia. The accusations against Dr. Amin originated from a 2020 whistleblower complaint filed by a nurse at the detention center. Despite initial skepticism from NBC's standards department, the network published an article, and MSNBC quickly followed with a series of on-air reports. In these reports, Dr. Amin was frequently referred to as the "uterus collector." However, the whistleblower's claims remain unsubstantiated.

Dr. Amin is suing NBCUniversal, alleging that he was falsely depicted as an abusive and unethical physician motivated by profit. Judge Lisa Godbey Wood of the Southern District of Georgia has ruled that a jury could find actual malice in the reporting. The judge cited NBC's decision to republish the whistleblower's accusations despite an internal investigation that failed to corroborate them.

The lawsuit contends that "false and defamatory" statements were made multiple times across MSNBC programs, causing significant damage to Dr. Amin's reputation. Maddow, Hayes, and Wallace are all potential witnesses in the upcoming trial, along with NBC News reporters and other network personnel.

The lawsuit highlights specific instances of allegedly defamatory statements made by the MSNBC hosts. Wallace, for example, reported the whistleblower’s claims as “breaking news,” while Ainsley amplified the accusations, describing women returning from Dr. Amin’s practice “bruised” and alleging unnecessary procedures.

Court documents reveal that Dr. Amin performed only two hysterectomies at the facility, both deemed medically necessary with patient consent. The lawsuit accuses MSNBC of abandoning journalistic integrity and recklessly publishing false information. Despite reportedly expressing initial skepticism, Maddow proceeded to cover the story, including a statement from Dr. Amin denying the allegations. MSNBC also acknowledged ICE's statement promising a full investigation into the accusations. Judge Wood has ruled that several statements made on MSNBC were demonstrably false, including the claim of “mass hysterectomies” and the “uterus collector” label. The judge emphasized that republishing hearsay allegations does not absolve MSNBC of liability.

The lawsuit paints a picture of Dr. Amin as an immigrant who overcame a difficult childhood to pursue a medical career dedicated to serving underserved communities. He is seeking $30 million in damages for the alleged harm to his reputation and career.