A Connecticut appeals court has affirmed fines amounting to $75,000 against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones for his non-compliance with a deposition in the lawsuit filed by Sandy Hook families. The lawsuit stemmed from Jones repeatedly claiming the 2012 Newtown school shooting was a hoax, leading to a substantial $1.4 billion judgment against him.
The state Appellate Court rejected Jones’ assertion of illness preventing his attendance during the March 2022 questioning in Austin, Texas. Notably, the court observed that Jones continued hosting his Infowars show during the same period. While Jones eventually participated in a deposition in Connecticut the following month, he received a refund of the fines paid.
Judge Jose Suarez, in a unanimous 3-0 ruling, emphasized that Jones’ simultaneous broadcasting activities undermined his claim of being too ill to attend the initial deposition. The court concluded that the defendant’s failure to attend the deposition was willful, supporting the trial court’s decision.
Jones had cited a medical problem, including vertigo, as the reason for missing the questioning. Initially thought to be a serious heart issue, it was later diagnosed as a sinus infection. Jones’ lawyer, Norm Pattis, is yet to comment on the recent decision, and it remains unclear whether an appeal to the Connecticut Supreme Court is planned.
Pattis had argued that the fines and contempt finding were unjust, asserting that the trial court disregarded sworn statements from Jones’ doctors about his illness. He criticized the judge for prioritizing docket management over medical confidentiality.
While the fines amount to a small fraction of the $1.4 billion judgment, Pattis emphasized the significance of challenging the principal points underlying the penalties. Jones is currently appealing judgments in both Connecticut and Texas, with bankruptcy proceedings underway for him and his media company, Free Speech Systems. The final determination of the amount to be paid to the Sandy Hook families will be decided by a bankruptcy court judge.
The lawsuit brought by Sandy Hook families, who faced harassment and threats due to Jones’ claims, resulted in a jury awarding them $965 million, with an additional $473 million in punitive damages. Jones is also facing legal challenges in Texas with two other pending lawsuits by parents of Sandy Hook victims.