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edbermac

(15,933 posts)
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:12 PM Mar 2020

Alex Jones Loses Sandy Hook Court Appeal, Must Now Pay Nearly $150,000 In Legal Fees

Alex Jones, a conspiracy theorist and repeated loser of court battles, was ordered Wednesday to pay more than $20,000 in attorney fees after losing another appeal in a defamation case related to the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He now owes nearly $150,000 in legal fees before he even faces a jury.

The Texas Court of Appeals sided with Sandy Hook father Neil Heslin, who for years has been attacked by conspiracy theorists who falsely claim the school shooting in which 20 children and six adults were killed never happened.

Heslin’s lawsuit accuses Jones and his website, Infowars, of defamation after Jones claimed the parents of the dead children were “crisis actors” who helped stage the shooting. Jones is now being sued by nine family members of people who died in the shooting.

Jones’ most recent appeal to dismiss Heslin’s lawsuit was found to be “frivolous,” the court ruled Wednesday. Jones was ordered to pay $22,250 in attorney fees.

Jones was also ordered to pay approximately $25,000 in October after a court sanctioned him. And in December, he was ordered to pay $100,000 in legal fees after a Texas judge ruled his defense team “intentionally disregarded” an earlier order to produce witnesses.

Attorney Mark Bankston, who is representing Heslin and other families suing Jones, told HuffPost in a statement that the latest victory for his client spells the end for Jones.

“It is rare to see a legal defense so incompetent and disrespectful to the rule of law that it causes a defendant to rack up $150,000 in fines during preliminary motions before even reaching trial,” Bankston said. “These fines are only the beginning. A far greater reckoning awaits Mr. Jones.”

Former allies have turned against Jones during his legal battle. Rob Jacobson, a former Infowars editor, testified in a deposition that staff laughed at him when he warned them against spreading lies about Sandy Hook.

“I told [Jones] straight to his face: ‘They’re going to come after you for Sandy Hook. This is really bad,’” Jacobson said. “He just stared at me like a deer in the headlights, he had nothing to say. And we just went on our way.”

Paul Watson, Jones’ longtime friend and a contributor to Infowars, testified in December that he also warned Jones to leave the parents alone, but was largely ignored.

Jones was most recently in the news after he was caught peddling a toothpaste he falsely claimed could kill the deadly coronavirus.


https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/alex-jones-loses-another-sandy-hook-court-battle-must-now-pay-150000-in-court-costs-200531738.html

Boo hoo hoo.

27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Alex Jones Loses Sandy Hook Court Appeal, Must Now Pay Nearly $150,000 In Legal Fees (Original Post) edbermac Mar 2020 OP
Bad things keep happening to good people. gibraltar72 Mar 2020 #1
But not today. jls4561 Mar 2020 #4
YES! BeckyDem Mar 2020 #2
There is some justice. yes. yes. riversedge Mar 2020 #3
Good! William769 Mar 2020 #5
And then the Deep State made him drive while intoxicated dalton99a Mar 2020 #6
And he will do the very conservative/corporate thing and claim bankruptcy and walk away......... nt mitch96 Mar 2020 #7
Can the court attach future earnings / wages? Cirque du So-What Mar 2020 #8
No, I think that Jones will sue his lawyers for malpractice. TexasTowelie Mar 2020 #26
Missed the Medal of Freedom window too? Brainfodder Mar 2020 #9
A little more happy news. Crunchy Frog Mar 2020 #10
Thoughts. No prayers. No money. Brother Mythos Mar 2020 #11
As Nelson Muntz says. . . . . Jake Stern Mar 2020 #12
If he files for bankruptcy... are fees and penalties and fines and judgements erased? NurseJackie Mar 2020 #13
up goes my usual for any Jones the Infowanker OP Celerity Mar 2020 #14
I'll play along! calimary Mar 2020 #24
What a joke Traildogbob Mar 2020 #15
I want Jones homeless in the streets begging for money. TeamPooka Mar 2020 #16
That would be a fitting punishment for that asshole. Initech Mar 2020 #21
I want him in a secured mental health facility Jake Stern Mar 2020 #25
too good for him. TeamPooka Mar 2020 #27
I'm sure there are enough idiots in this country to pay for it through go fund me. nt yaesu Mar 2020 #17
That's nice OneCrazyDiamond Mar 2020 #18
I hope he suffers for the rest of his life. Mickju Mar 2020 #19
Lock him the fuck up already. warmfeet Mar 2020 #20
THIS--for chrissakes, THIS slumcamper Mar 2020 #23
That's chump change. Throw the book at @hole--AND LOCK HIM UP. slumcamper Mar 2020 #22

Cirque du So-What

(25,908 posts)
8. Can the court attach future earnings / wages?
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:29 PM
Mar 2020

I thought obligations like these couldn’t be discharged in bankruptcy. Legal fees, perhaps, but not awards for the plaintiffs. I just don’t know.

TexasTowelie

(111,969 posts)
26. No, I think that Jones will sue his lawyers for malpractice.
Fri Mar 27, 2020, 12:22 AM
Mar 2020

The fine will inevitably be paid by some insurance company that the lawyers have paid for professional liability insurance. The $150K isn't much more than a nuisance value claim considering the amount of money the insurance company would pay for attorneys if they decline the claim.

Initech

(100,042 posts)
21. That would be a fitting punishment for that asshole.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 07:53 PM
Mar 2020

He can go scream about the Deep State in a dark alleyway somewhere.

Jake Stern

(3,145 posts)
25. I want him in a secured mental health facility
Fri Mar 27, 2020, 12:08 AM
Mar 2020

Until he is stabilized and demonstrates compliance with his course of treatment.

slumcamper

(1,604 posts)
22. That's chump change. Throw the book at @hole--AND LOCK HIM UP.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 08:00 PM
Mar 2020

This dickhead is a major plague on society.

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