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Alex Jones told to pay $965M damages to Sandy Hook victims' families

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Alex Jones told to pay $965M damages to Sandy Hook victims' families

#11

Post by ivraatiems »

tptacek wrote: post #8
ivraatiems wrote: post #4

This is great news, but we should temper our expectations: It's likely that Jones will appeal and keep this tied up for years before he has to pay anything. Even if he is eventually obligated to pay some amount, it is unlikely to be what the jury just decided. And even if it is what the jury just decided, Jones' company is already "bankrupt" (yet still on the air) and he will almost certainly avoid liability through…

Remarkably, I think this is all economic damages --- they haven't reached the punitive damages phase. Furthermore, Connecticut doesn't have caps on compensatory damage for emotional distress. So this isn't quite like the Texas situation, where Jones attorneys successfully convinced the jury to award relatively small compensatory damages and large punitive damages --- those Texas punitive damages will get knocked way…

I know your latter statement is true. Not sure about the former but IANAL. I do know attorney's fees are coming next.

Still, I think the odds he actually is forced to pay almost any of this are vanishingly small.

Re: Alex Jones told to pay $965M damages to Sandy Hook victims' families

#12

Post by diydsp »

tootie wrote: post #6

I'm sure that will get reduced by the judge based on whatever state law, but it's a huge signal to Jones that he's an absolute monster.

To him it's an achievement that confirms what he's been blathering abt for 20 years. But hopefully it will disincentivize others.

Re: Alex Jones told to pay $965M damages to Sandy Hook victims' families

#13

Post by tptacek »

serioussecurity wrote: post #9
belval wrote: post #5

So how were the damage calculated? I get that this guy is a nutjob but how can saying something is a hoax get you a 1B fine?

Punitive damages were a large fraction of the award.

Are you sure about that? The jury recommended punitive damages, but as I understand it, in Connecticut the judge decides the punitive damage amounts in a later trial phase. I think today's number includes no punitive damages.

Re: Alex Jones told to pay $965M damages to Sandy Hook victims' families

#14

Post by klyrs »

tootie wrote: post #6

I'm sure that will get reduced by the judge based on whatever state law, but it's a huge signal to Jones that he's an absolute monster.

> it's a huge signal to Jones that he's an absolute monster.

I'd predict that he's going to flaunt the enormity if this penalty, and his fans will lap it up.

Re: Alex Jones told to pay $965M damages to Sandy Hook victims' families

#18

Post by Arrath »

klyrs wrote: post #14
tootie wrote: post #6

I'm sure that will get reduced by the judge based on whatever state law, but it's a huge signal to Jones that he's an absolute monster.

> it's a huge signal to Jones that he's an absolute monster. I'd predict that he's going to flaunt the enormity if this penalty, and his fans will lap it up.

He is, in fact, live-flaunting the verdict on his stream at this very moment.
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