Career conspiracy theorist Alex Jones‘ effort to slash a nearly $50 million defamation verdict against him in regards to his defamatory rhetoric targeting Sandy Hook families has been rejected by judge, Reuters reports.
Jones’ lawyers argued that a Texas state law capping certain types of damages meant that the August verdict against Jones should be cut by more than $40 million. Jones was sued by the parents of a 6-year-old boy killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting. Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, who are the separated parents of slain 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, testified that followers of Jones who falsely believed the parents were lying about their son’s death harassed them and sent them death threats for years.
Heslin and Lewis’ lawyers argued that the cap does not apply if the rhetoric in question targets someone with a disability, saying that their trauma over their son’s death counted as a disability.
“Our clients are pleased that the jury’s verdict was upheld in totality and my remaining clients look forward to closing out this vile chapter of American history by continuing to hold Mr Jones accountable,” Heslin and Lewis’ attorney, Mark Bankston, told Reuters.
Jones’ attorney, Andino Reynal, said the ruling contradicts “decades of precedent” and he will appeal.
Read the full report over at Reuters.
