Univision asks court to dismiss US$500M Trump lawsuit

Calling a US$500 million Donald Trump lawsuit "beyond frivolous," Univision has struck back at claims by the Republican presidential candidate that it unjustly broke a contract with him to broadcast beauty pageants.

Univision lawyers filed papers in Manhattan federal court Friday responding to a July Trump lawsuit. The lawyers said Trump destroyed the value of Univision's rights to broadcast the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants when he made "inflammatory comments" about Hispanics during his June 16 announcement of a presidential campaign.

The lawyers noted that Univision was the leading media company serving Hispanic America when Trump made comments that outraged Mexican Americans, Mexican immigrants and Hispanics.

Trump's lawsuit claimed breach of contract, defamation and First Amendment violations.

Lawyers for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment.