Fox News Sued Over Sasha Kuvshynova’s Death in Ukraine, What the Lawsuit Alleges and What the New York Court Decided

The parents of Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra “Sasha” Kuvshynova are suing Fox News over her death while she worked with the network’s crew near Kyiv on March 14, 2022. She was 24.

This is not a class action. It is an individual wrongful-death and fraud lawsuit brought by her parents, Andriy Kuvshynov and Iryna Mamaysur, along with security contractor Shane Thomson. There is no class, no settlement fund and no claim form for the public.

The case is Kuvshynov v. Fox News Network, LLC, Index No. 152374/2024, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County. On December 29, 2025, Justice Mary V. Rosado denied most of Fox’s and correspondent Benjamin Hall’s requests to dismiss the parents’ claims. That ruling decided only whether the claims could go forward. It did not decide whether Fox or Hall is liable.

Fox News has said it will defend against what it calls inaccurate claims.

Last Updated: October 5, 2026

Fox News Kuvshynova Lawsuit: Quick Facts

Detail	What the record shows
Case	Kuvshynov v. Fox News Network, LLC
Index number	152374/2024
Court	Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County
Judge (December 2025 ruling)	Justice Mary V. Rosado
Filed	March 14, 2024
Plaintiffs	Andriy Kuvshynov and Iryna Mamaysur (Kuvshynova’s parents, individually and as her representatives); Shane Thomson
Defendants named	Fox News Network, LLC; Fox Corporation; News Corporation; Rupert Murdoch; Suzanne Scott; Benjamin Hall; HarperCollins Publishers LLC
Incident	March 14, 2022, near Irpin, Ukraine
Main claims	Wrongful death and fraud (parents); tortious interference and emotional distress (Thomson)
Class action?	No
Claim form or settlement	None
Status	Active litigation. No judgment or settlement has been identified

What Happened to Sasha Kuvshynova in Ukraine on March 14, 2022

Kuvshynova worked for Fox News as an independent contractor, serving as a guide and translator. Fox News host Benjamin Hall and videographer Pierre Zakrzewski were with her on March 14, 2022, when artillery shells struck near their car outside Kyiv. Kuvshynova and Zakrzewski were killed. Hall survived with severe injuries.

What Sasha Kuvshynova’s Parents Allege Fox News and Benjamin Hall Did Before the Attack

The court’s decision summarizes the allegations in the amended complaint. These are allegations, not proven facts.

• On March 12, 2022, security contractor Shane Thomson allegedly warned the Fox crew that it was unsafe to go near Irpin.
• On March 13, American journalist Brent Renaud was killed near Irpin, and the mayor of Irpin banned foreign journalists from the area.
• On March 14, Hall allegedly directed the crew toward Irpin anyway. Fox’s Ukrainian driver allegedly refused to go in that direction as too dangerous.
• Hall allegedly told security consultant Duncan “Jock” Gordon to stay behind so another group could ride in the car, and the crew then went toward Horenka, close to Russian lines, in an area where Thomson, Gordon and the mayor of Irpin had advised journalists to stay away.
• The parents also allege that Fox’s New York management pressured reporters in Kyiv to get footage of military action.

What Fox News Allegedly Did After Sasha Kuvshynova’s Death

According to the complaint as described in the court decision, Fox offered the unrepresented parents two months of back pay, funeral expenses and life insurance proceeds, on the condition that her father sign a waiver of all claims. The parents allege Fox did not disclose the circumstances of her death when it presented that waiver.

The parents also challenge the account in Benjamin Hall’s book, published by HarperCollins on March 14, 2023. They allege it misleadingly said Russian forces were believed to be 30 miles away from where the crew was filming.

What the New York Court Decided on December 29, 2025

Issue	Ruling at the motion-to-dismiss stage
Fox’s release and waiver defense	Rejected for now. The court found enforcing the release before any discovery “would result in a grave injustice,” noting the parents were unrepresented, newly bereaved and living in an active war zone
Wrongful-death claim	Allowed to proceed. The court accepted documentation that the parents are compulsory heirs under Ukrainian law and could sue for her estate
Benjamin Hall	Motion to dismiss the parents’ claims denied. Claims by Thomson against Hall were dismissed
Rupert Murdoch and Suzanne Scott	Dismissed without prejudice, with leave to replead if discovery shows their affirmative involvement
News Corp. and HarperCollins	Amended complaint dismissed. The court denied HarperCollins’ request for attorneys’ fees under New York’s anti-SLAPP law
Thomson’s tortious interference and emotional distress claims	Allowed to proceed
Thomson’s defamation claim	Dismissed without prejudice, with 30 days to replead with more specific facts

The ruling is not a finding that Fox fraudulently obtained the release or that Hall concealed anything. The court accepted the plaintiffs’ allegations as true only for the purpose of deciding whether the case could continue.

What Shane Thomson Alleges Against Fox News

Thomson was a security contractor on the Fox assignment. He alleges that after the deaths, Fox made him a scapegoat, including by spreading a false claim that he had a drinking problem in Kyiv. He alleges he was reassigned and later let go, and that he lost later work. He also alleges Fox required him to transport Zakrzewski’s body across the border into Poland.

Is There a Fox News Settlement or Claim Form for the Kuvshynova Case?

No. Nothing is available for the public to claim. Any money would have to come from a judgment, a settlement between the parties or another resolution. The complaint does not state a single dollar figure, and news coverage describes the plaintiffs as seeking unspecified punitive damages. No settlement amount has been identified.

What Happens Next in Kuvshynov v. Fox News Network

The December 2025 order directed Fox and Hall to answer the amended complaint within 20 days of entry and told the parties to submit a proposed preliminary conference order by February 11, 2026. The case then moves into discovery.

I did not locate any later publicly indexed decision, final judgment or settlement as of October 5, 2026. Check the New York County docket for Index No. 152374/2024 for current developments.

Is Zakrzewski’s Widow Also Suing Fox News?

Yes, separately. Michelle Ross-Stanton, the widow of Pierre Zakrzewski, has filed her own lawsuit against Fox News. TVNewser, citing the Washington Post, reported it seeks about $11.6 million. It is a separate case from the Kuvshynov lawsuit.

Fox News Kuvshynova Lawsuit Timeline

Date	Event
March 12, 2022	Thomson allegedly warns the Fox crew that Irpin is unsafe
March 13, 2022	Brent Renaud is killed near Irpin; Irpin’s mayor bans foreign journalists
March 14, 2022	Kuvshynova and Zakrzewski are killed; Hall is severely injured
March 14, 2023	Hall’s book is published by HarperCollins
March 14, 2024	Kuvshynova’s parents and Thomson file suit in New York County
December 29, 2025	Court rules on motions to dismiss
February 11, 2026	Deadline for proposed preliminary conference order

Fox News Kuvshynova Lawsuit: Frequently Asked Questions

Who is suing Fox News over Sasha Kuvshynova’s death?

 Her parents, Andriy Kuvshynov and Iryna Mamaysur, together with security contractor Shane Thomson.

Is this a class action?

 No. It is an individual lawsuit, so there is no class, claim form or public settlement.

What is the case number?

 Index No. 152374/2024, Supreme Court, New York County.

Did the court find Fox News responsible?

 No. The December 2025 ruling only allowed major claims to go forward. The allegations still must be proven.

Was Benjamin Hall dismissed from the case?

 No. The court denied his motion to dismiss the parents’ claims.

Were Rupert Murdoch and Suzanne Scott dismissed? 

Yes, without prejudice. The plaintiffs may replead if discovery shows their affirmative involvement.

Did the waiver the father signed end the case?

 Not at this stage. The court declined to enforce the release before discovery.

How much money are the parents seeking?

 The complaint doesn’t state a single figure. Coverage describes unspecified punitive damages.

Related Fox News Legal Coverage on AllAboutLawyer

• Fox Lawsuit Latest News, Fox News Sued For $3.5 Billion

Sources Used in This Fox News Kuvshynova Lawsuit Article

• Supreme Court, New York County, Kuvshynov v. Fox News Network, LLC, Index No. 152374/2024, Decision and Order, December 29, 2025 (2025 NY Slip Op 52088(U)): https://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/other-courts/2025/2025-ny-slip-op-52088-u.html
• NPR (via WYPR), “Family of slain Ukrainian journalist sues Fox News, alleging a cover-up,” March 14, 2024: https://www.wypr.org/2024-03-14/family-of-slain-ukrainian-journalist-sues-fox-news-alleging-a-cover-up
• TVNewser / Adweek, “Fox News Sued by Widow of Journalist Killed in Ukraine”: https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/fox-news-sued-michaelle-ross-stanton-pierre-zakrzewski/

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the New York Supreme Court’s December 29, 2025 Decision and Order (2025 NY Slip Op 52088(U)) and published news coverage of the lawsuit, as of October 5, 2026. Last Updated: October 5, 2026.

Disclaimer: This is legal information, not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is not a law firm. Allegations in a complaint are not findings of fact, and the December 2025 ruling did not decide liability. Check the court docket for current developments.