Judge backs full $49M jury award against Alex Jones in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas choose mentioned Tuesday she is not going to decrease an almost $50 million punishment in opposition to Alex Jones {that a} jury handed down earlier this 12 months over the Infowars host spreading false conspiracy theories in regards to the Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty bloodbath.

Since that August trial in Texas, different judgments in opposition to Jones in Connecticut have stacked as much as a staggering $1.44 billion — organising what consultants say is probably going an extended combat forward for Sandy Hook households to attempt to acquire that cash.

The choice in Texas by Choose Maya Guerra Gamble is one other defeat for Jones and notable as a result of a state legislation has raised questions on how a lot of the punishment would stand.

In most civil circumstances, Texas legislation limits how a lot defendants must pay in “exemplary,” or punitive, damages to twice the “financial damages” plus as much as $750,000. However jurors will not be advised about this cover, and eye-popping verdicts are sometimes hacked down by judges. However Gamble mentioned she would enter a judgment for the total quantity.

Jones might enchantment and has already mentioned he has little cash to pay the damages. He mentioned through the Connecticut trial that he has lower than $2 million to his identify, which contradicted testimony on the trial in Texas. Infowars mum or dad firm Free Speech Methods, in the meantime, is looking for chapter safety.

Twenty youngsters and 6 adults died within the capturing on Dec. 14, 2012.

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Discover AP’s full protection of the Alex Jones trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/alex-jones

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