AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ media firm, Free Speech Programs, filed for chapter on Friday, however its lawyer mentioned it shouldn’t intrude with the continuing libel damages lawsuit. in Texas searching for to power Jones to pay $150 million or extra for the household of one of many kids killed within the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary College assault.
The trial in Austinthe place Jones lives and the place Free Speech Programs is predicated, concluded his first week of testimony Friday and must be accomplished subsequent week. The chapter submitting was introduced by Jones’ lawyer, Andino Reynal, on the finish of the day.
Reynal and the household attorneys prosecuting Jones informed Choose Maya Guerra Gamble that submitting for chapter wouldn’t cease the lawsuit.
The corporate desires to “put this a part of the odyssey behind us in order that now we have numbers” set for the damages, Reynal mentioned.
Particulars of the chapter submitting weren’t instantly accessible.
It’s not the primary time a chapter submitting got here amid litigation in opposition to Jones by the Sandy Hook households. In April, Jones’ Infowars firm and two different of its enterprise entities filed for chapter, leading to a postponement of the trial. Free Speech Programs is the mum or dad firm of Infowars.
Courts in Texas and Connecticut have already discovered Jones chargeable for defamation for his portrayal of the Sandy Hook bloodbath as a hoax involving actors aimed toward rising gun management. In each states, judges entered default judgments in opposition to Jones with out a trial as a result of he failed to answer courtroom orders and switch over paperwork.
Christopher Mattei, the Sandy Hook households’ lawyer within the Connecticut case, launched an announcement late Friday lambasting the chapter submitting.
“Simply two days earlier than the beginning of jury choice in Connecticut, Mr. Jones has as soon as once more fled like a coward to chapter courtroom in a clear try and delay the confrontation with the households he has spent years hurting,” Mattei mentioned. “These households have limitless persistence and stay dedicated to holding Mr. Jones accountable in a Connecticut courtroom.”
Austin lawsuit goals to find out how a lot Jones ought to pay for defaming Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose 6-year-old son Jesse Lewis was amongst 20 kids and 6 educators who have been killed within the nation’s deadliest capturing . They and different Sandy Hook households suing Jones say they endured years of harassment and threats stemming from Jones’ repeated false claims that the capturing was a hoax or did not occur.
Jones claimed in courtroom data final 12 months that he had a unfavourable web price of $20 million, however attorneys for the Sandy Hook households painted a special monetary image.
Court docket data present Jones’ Infowars retailer, which sells dietary dietary supplements and survival gear, grossed greater than $165 million between 2015 and 2018. Jones additionally urged listeners to his Infowars program to donate silver.
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Related Press author Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.
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