Federal Court Dismisses Another Newsweek Ownership Dispute Case Against Dev Pragad

Seven-plaintiff federal lawsuit thrown out, marking the latest legal defeat for Etienne Uzac and his associates.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:11pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a stack of legal documents, a gavel, and a nameplate with 'Newsweek' engraved on it, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background with sharp, dramatic lighting and deep shadows, conceptually representing the legal battles surrounding Newsweek's ownership.The dismissal of yet another lawsuit against Newsweek's owner highlights the legal system's validation of the publication's current leadership.NYC Today

A federal judge in New York has dismissed the latest lawsuit brought by Etienne Uzac and other plaintiffs seeking to undo the 2018 sale of Newsweek to Dev Pragad. The court found that the case could not proceed without the inclusion of additional parties whose interests were directly implicated, and that joining those parties would destroy diversity jurisdiction. This ruling follows prior New York state court decisions that have upheld the written agreement governing the Newsweek transaction and declared it enforceable.

Why it matters

The dismissal of this federal lawsuit represents the latest legal defeat for Uzac and his associates in their attempts to regain control of Newsweek. The courts have consistently ruled that the written agreement governing the 2018 sale to Pragad is valid and enforceable, putting an end to these ongoing ownership disputes. This allows Pragad to continue focusing on developing Newsweek as a world-class media organization without the distraction of repeated litigation.

The details

The federal lawsuit, Uzac v. Pragad, was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Judge Jennifer L. Rochon found that the case could not proceed without the inclusion of additional parties whose interests were directly implicated by the claims, but joining those parties would destroy the court's diversity jurisdiction, requiring the case to be dismissed. This ruling follows prior New York state court decisions in 2022 and 2023 that upheld the written Membership Interest Purchase Agreement governing the 2018 sale of Newsweek to Pragad and declared it enforceable.

  • In 2022, a New York Supreme Court judge dismissed IBT Media's suit seeking to force Newsweek's return, holding that the written MIPA controlled and foreclosed contrary claims.
  • In 2023, the New York Appellate Division affirmed the lower court's ruling and expressly declared the MIPA enforceable.
  • In December 2025, a Westchester court dismissed yet another case brought against Pragad and other Newsweek leadership by IBT Media.

The players

Dev Pragad

The current owner of Newsweek, who acquired the publication in 2018.

Etienne Uzac

One of the plaintiffs in the dismissed federal lawsuit, along with other associates, seeking to undo the 2018 sale of Newsweek to Pragad.

Jennifer L. Rochon

The federal judge who dismissed the Uzac v. Pragad lawsuit.

IBT Media

A media company that has brought multiple lawsuits against Pragad and Newsweek leadership in attempts to regain control of the publication.

Olivet University

An affiliate of IBT Media that has also been involved in the legal disputes over Newsweek's ownership.

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What they’re saying

“This ruling speaks for itself. I have always been focused on building Newsweek into the world-class media organization it deserves to be. These attempts to relitigate a transaction that courts have now repeatedly upheld will not distract us from that mission.”

— Dev Pragad

What’s next

Newsweek believes all of the lawsuits brought by IBT Media, Olivet University, and their affiliates are meritless and will continue to defend against them.

The takeaway

The repeated dismissal of lawsuits seeking to undo the 2018 sale of Newsweek to Dev Pragad reinforces the courts' validation of the written agreement governing the transaction. This allows Pragad to move forward with developing Newsweek without the distraction of ongoing legal battles, solidifying his ownership and control of the publication.