Court cuts $50M judgment against Infowars’ Alex Jones over falsely labeling Newtown killings a hoax
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A Texas court on Friday slashed a $50 million judgment to regarding $6 million against Infowars founder Alex Jones after he falsely maintained the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school mass shooting was a hoax.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – A Texas court on Friday slashed a $50 million judgment to regarding $6 million against Infowars founder Alex Jones after he falsely maintained the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school mass shooting was a hoax.
What happened
In practice, the ruling does not affect a $1.25 billion judgment against Jones in Connecticut, but is a legal victory for him after he and his firm, Free Speech Systems, were identified liable for damages for claiming the mass shooting didn't happen.
Despite the multiple financial judgments against him in Connecticut and Texas, Jones has yet to create any payments as he appeals the amounts and the attempt to liquidate his business.
For context, the unanimous opinion by the Texas Third Court of Appeals left intact more than $4.1 million in compensatory damages awarded by a jury to Sandy Hook parents Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis for defamation and emotional distress.
The bottom line
Taken together, the developments around court cuts $50M judgment against Infowars Alex Jones over falsely labeling Newtown point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.
