The Verdict That Breaks the Pattern

For years, these cases never made it this far.

They died early. Quietly. Predictably.

Motion to dismiss. Case closed. No discovery. No documents. No internal truth.

That was the system.

Last week, that system broke.

A jury found that major social media platforms could be held liable for harm, including findings of oppression, malice, or fraud. The headlines focused on the verdict. The real story is how it happened and what it unlocks next.

At the center of that shift is Laura Marquez-Garrett.

“This is exactly why I wanted to do this call,” I said in a post-verdict discussion with Laura, Frances Haugen, and others who have been working toward this moment for years. “Now we have to keep this going.”

Laura made it clear right away. The verdict is not the end. It’s the beginning.