In a noteworthy ruling, the Supreme Court has turned down Alex Jones’ plea to evaluate the significant judgment of $1.4 billion against him. This decision concerns the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which Jones controversially labeled a hoax orchestrated by actors posing as victims of a staged event.
The court officially announced on October 14 that they would not entertain Jones’ appeal. He had previously requested the justices to safeguard his assets, including his InfoWars platform, while seeking their intervention in this case.
A Connecticut jury ruled in 2022 that Jones was liable for defaming the families of Sandy Hook victims, along with an FBI agent. The decision was rooted in the assertion that Jones inflicted emotional distress by perpetuating his narrative that the tragic killings were faked as part of a government conspiracy aimed at confiscating firearms from American citizens.
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In total, 26 individuals, including 20 innocent children, lost their lives during the devastating attack led by 20-year-old Adam Lanza, who subsequently took his own life post-incident after also killing his mother.
Jones contended that he deserved a fair trial, arguing against the default liability ruling that occurred when he failed to comply with court orders and produce necessary evidence. Following this, a jury assessed the extent of damages.
In their appeal to the Supreme Court, Jones’ attorneys described the outcome as a harsh financial penalty imposed unfairly on a media figure whose broadcasts reach a wide audience.
Their argument centered on the right for media personnel to contest the issuance of administrative default judgments in state courts.
Jones isn’t just facing the $1.4 billion from Connecticut; he is also on the hook for close to $50 million in another lawsuit from Texas. This separate court case also involves his false claims about the Sandy Hook incident, with the damages awarded to the family of a 6-year-old victim.
Contributing writer: Aysha Bagchi
This article was initially published by USA TODAY: Supreme Court dismisses Alex Jones’ appeal of $1.4 billion Sandy Hook judgment
