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LetMyPeopleVote

LetMyPeopleVote's Journal
LetMyPeopleVote's Journal
November 22, 2022

Alex Jones must pay full $49M to Sandy Hook parents, judge orders, overruling Texas damages cap

Source: Newstime

A Texas judge sided with the parents of a slain Sandy Hook boy and against Alex Jones Tuesday by disregarding a state law that caps punitive damages in lawsuits at $750,000 and giving the parents the full $49 million awarded by a jury in August.

"The law in Texas enforces this cap without looking at the facts behind the liability, and without looking at the jury verdict that ... this person and this company has done something horrible," said Travis County District Court Judge Maya Guerra Gamble at the end of a daylong livestreamed hearing on Tuesday, referring to Jones and his parent company Free Speech Systems. "For this reason, I am going to enter the full amount that the jury awarded in this case."

Neil Heslin, the Sandy Hook dad who was awarded $49 million in defamation damages along with the mother of his slain son, Scarlett Lewis, said he was pleased with the judge's ruling but referred questions to his lead attorney in Texas, Mark Bankston......

On the issue of the $750,000 cap, the parents' attorneys argued that the Texas cap on damages does not apply to the $45 million punitive portion of their jury award, because the parents qualify as disabled individuals due to their severe emotional disturbance.

The Texas judge was not persuaded by Jones' attorneys, who argued that the parents were attempting an 11th-hour stunt to exploit a loophole in the cap law, and that the parents never claimed they were disabled people during the trial.

Read more: https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Sandy-Hook-Alex-Jones-post-trial-battles-CT-Texas-17604398.php



https://twitter.com/Rteefact/status/1595209467532025856
November 22, 2022

TX Court upholds jury's full punitive damage award going over cap

I watched part of the hearing today on sanctions. The judge in effect ignored the Texas cap on punitive damages

https://twitter.com/cathyrusson/status/1595177416128753664

November 22, 2022

Oral arguments in appeal of Special Master ruling were amusing

I and others had fun listening to the oral arguments in this case before the 11th Circuit
https://twitter.com/tribelaw/status/1595139133068161024
https://twitter.com/AWeissmann_/status/1595140169157738497
https://twitter.com/neal_katyal/status/1595142270348451840
https://twitter.com/harrylitman/status/1595140196617531393
Here is one good summary of the oral argumenta
https://twitter.com/threadreaderapp/status/1595141638942228482

11th circuit opens saying they've read all the briefings and asks the parties to present their arguments quickly. The government is up first and gives background. No equitable jurisdiction, plaintiff hasn't demonstrated likelihood of success, and can't show irreparable harm.

The government already cites the 5th circuit precedent invoked by the 11th circuit (a hint to Chapman and the first Richey factor - a callous disregard for constitutional rights). 2/

Judge Pryor asks Joshi (government) if there's ever been a case where anyone got their shit back pre-indictment without a callous disregard factor). Judge asks if the first Richey factor is Dispositive. Joshi says that's his view, and other courts show its the most important. 3/

But even if it wasn't dispositive (required), he doesn't meet the other three Richey factors anyhow. Judge Grant asks when a movant would have a need to get stuff back under rule 41. Joshi says maybe if a 3rd party like a business needed their stuff back to do business... 4/

But plaintiff would have to show a need and trump can't have one because he already has the documents besides the classified ones. (I'm paraphrasing a lot here). Joshi says trump doesnt want the stuff back, he wants to stop DoJ from using them. 5/

The proper remedy for that would be to file a motion to suppress (Judge asked what an adequate remedy would be). in your brief, you argued we should reverse and remand with instructions to dismiss. 6/
but because this is an appeal for an injunction, if you were right, we would vacate cannon's order over a lack of equitable jurisdiction. So instead of reverse and demand shouldn't we just vacate and not reverse? 7/

Joshi respectfully disagrees saying if the jurisdictional merits are lacking, your court has the authority to not only reverse and remand. Judge says "but isn't it that we vacate?" Joshi says as long as you're not vacating for factual findings. 8/

(They're discussing a technicality on how to kill cannon's order. lol) 9/

Now three minutes for Trusty rebuttal. As to jurisdiction, process needs to be described. Pryor asks are you aware of a SINGLE decision by a federal court where they exercised equitable jurisdiction in a pre-indictment scenario where the search was unlawful? 10/

Trusty: blah blah blah no. There's no case law. But there's no situation in the country where a president raided a former president's home? Judge: do you think "raid" is the proper term?" Trusty: no, sorry for using a loaded term. HAHA 11/

Pryor: but your brief doesnt even argue that the first richey factor of calloused disregard for constitutional rights... if you can't establish that, WHAT ARE WE EVEN DOING HERE? lolol 12/

The judges keep asking Trusty whether he's arguing the legality of the search and seizure. Trusty uses the word RAID again and immediately apologizes. He's rambling about something about this is unprecedented. No shit, bro. lolol 13/

Trusty is now arguing that the first Richey factor isn't necessary - which was what the 11th circuit based their decision on the classified documents on. He's citing the same case law he used when he lost that case. 14/

Pryor asks Trusty "does it matter? the precedent of Chapman binds us." Trusty argues Chapman is misstating the law. He's now arguing "faith in the criminal justice system" as cited by Cannon. 15/

Judge asks if he wasn't the former president, would this be any different? Trusty says they're not looking for special treatment for president trump, but there's a context. Another judge says Trusty didn't answer the question. 16/

Trusty says everyone has the fourth amendment right. Judge Pryor says "so there is no difference?" Trusty says there's no secret that they have concerns about PRA, executive privilege etc. 17/

Pryor says that since that argument was never made, it is a secret to us. lolol this is GOLD. "we have to determine when it's proper for a district court to do this in the 1st place. other than the fact that this involves a former POTUS, everything else is indistinguishable. 18/

...and we have to be concerned about the precedent we would create by allowing any other defendant interfere with the executive branch's investigation by asking for special counsel. 19/

Trusty is now mad the search warrant included the ability to take items that are co-mingled with classified documents which gave them carte blanche to take whatever and that's a real 4th amendment concern. 20/

Judge: yeah but you never made that argument. Trusty says "things have changed". (sorry about all these typos) 21/

Trusty says there's prejudice and it isn't realistic for the government to complain that they can't investigate. (Wow, so he's saying the cops can't ever seize anything). Trusty is now again arguing about the richey factors. 22/

Pryor "the problem is that you view the injunction as the most overblown part - but think of it from our view. the judiciary doesn't interfere with investigatorial decisions. Thats the who nature of this kind of jurisdiction. 23/

Trusty's answer again is that this is an extraordinary case. Basically trump should be above the law without directly saying that. 24/

Trusty says Dearie has a hearing December 1st and there are about 1000 documents under dispute. Judge asked what you disagree about? Trusty says privilege, personal records, etc (their crazy arguments that stealing documents makes them personal) 25/

Joshi's rebuttal. first, regarding the timeline, yes, dearie should be done by the middle of next month. But there could be more briefings, and arguments, and probably appeals. Delay is fatal to the vindication of the criminal law. 26/

Joshi reiterates that there is no irreparable harm because plaintiff has all these documents. Also says there's nothing wrong with the search warrant. It was precisely descriptive and that's exactly what we took. 27

Judge: besides, isn't that also a new arguemtn from Trusty? Joshi: yep. that was going to be my second point: trump keeps moving the goalposts. He argued first they were declassified. Now today I'm hearing about a Frank's hearing. 28

I think this just illustrates how anomalous this jurisdiction is and what a bad precedent it would be and i think the court should reverse. Judge Pryor says we are adjourned. END/

November 22, 2022

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1595150700757016577
https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/22/politics/student-loan-repayment-freeze-extended/index.html?utm_term=link&utm_content=2022-11-22T20%3A22%3A17&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twCNN

The Biden administration is yet again extending the pause on federal student loan payments, a benefit that began in March 2020 to help people who were struggling financially due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a source familiar with the plan said.

The Department of Education will announce it is extending the freeze another six months with the first payments due two months after June 30, the source said, unless a Supreme Court decision on the president’s student loan relief program comes first.

The administration had previously said the most recent extension would be the last, and payments were scheduled to restart in January.

But the administration had also intended for its student loan forgiveness program to begin canceling up to $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income borrowers before January. The program has yet to be implemented as it faces several legal challenges
November 22, 2022

Alex Jones-Hearing on Sanctions is being heard

You can watch this hearing on this link

November 22, 2022

Alex Jones-Hearing on Sanctions is being heard

You can watch on this link

November 22, 2022

Oral arguments in appeal of Special Master ruling

I am looking forward to the oral arguments for the DOJ appeal of Judge Loose Cannon's special master ruling. TFG's attorneys filed TFG's response on Monday of last week and the DOJ reply brief was due on Thursday. On Wednesday of last week, the 11th Circuit scheduled oral arguments for today, Nov. 22.

Jack Smith has read all of the pleadings and has approved the oral arguments.
https://twitter.com/RobLegare/status/1594803463820558336

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