Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ media firm Free Speech Techniques filed for chapter on Friday – however his lawyer mentioned it should not disrupt the defamation damages lawsuit in Texas in search of to drive Jones to pay $150 million or extra to the household of one of many kids killed within the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary College assault.
The trial in Austin, the place Jones lives and the place Free Speech Techniques relies, concluded its first week of testimony on Friday and is anticipated to wrap up 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 advised Decide 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 we’ve numbers” set for the damages, Reynal mentioned.
Particulars of the chapter submitting weren’t instantly out there.
This is not the primary time a chapter submitting has been filed 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 safety, leading to a postponement of the trial. Free Speech Techniques is the mum or dad firm of Infowars.
Courts in Texas and Connecticut have already discovered Jones defamation for its depiction 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 no trial as a result of he failed to reply to court docket orders and switch over paperwork.
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Christopher Mattei, the Sandy Hook households’ legal professional within the Connecticut case, launched a press release late Friday lambasting the chapter submitting.
“Simply two days earlier than the beginning of jury choice in Connecticut, Mr. Jones as soon as once more fled like a coward to chapter court docket 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 court docket.”
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 taking pictures . They and different Sandy Hook households suing Jones say they endured years of harassment and threats stemming from Jones’ repeated false claims that the taking pictures was a hoax or did not occur.
Jones claimed in court docket information final yr that he had a unfavorable internet value of $20 million, however attorneys for the Sandy Hook households painted a special monetary image.
Courtroom information 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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