Supreme Court rejects Alex Jones appeal; $1.4B Sandy Hook judgment stands
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Alex Jones’s appeal of the roughly $1.4 billion Sandy Hook defamation judgment—about $964 million in compensatory damages and $473 million in punitive damages—leaving intact a Connecticut default judgment entered in 2021 after repeated discovery noncompliance; the Court denied the petition without comment and did not request a response brief from the Sandy Hook families. Efforts to liquidate Infowars assets have shifted after a bankruptcy auction was voided, with a Texas court appointing a receiver (an order Jones is appealing), and Jones is separately appealing a $49 million defamation judgment in Texas.
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📌 Key Facts
- The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Alex Jones’ appeal, leaving intact the roughly $1.4 billion Sandy Hook defamation judgment; the Court denied the petition without comment and did not request a response brief from the Sandy Hook families, and Jones had sought emergency relief while the Court considered the case.
- The $1.4 billion award breaks down to about $964–965 million in compensatory damages from a 2022 Connecticut jury and roughly $473–474 million in punitive damages added by a judge.
- The Connecticut default judgment traces to 2021, when the court entered a default after finding repeated discovery noncompliance by Jones.
- Bankruptcy- and asset-liquidation efforts have been contentious: a bankruptcy judge tossed a prior auction (won by The Onion) to liquidate Infowars’ assets over process issues, and liquidation efforts have shifted to Texas state court.
- A Texas court has appointed a receiver to liquidate Jones’ assets, and Jones is appealing that receivership order.
- Separately, Jones is appealing a separate $49 million defamation judgment in Texas related to another Sandy Hook case.
📰 Sources (3)
Supreme Court rejects Alex Jones’ appeal of $1.4 billion defamation judgment in Sandy Hook shooting
New information:
- The Supreme Court denied Jones’s petition without comment and did not even request a response brief from the Sandy Hook families.
- Breakdown of the Connecticut award: $964 million jury verdict plus $473 million in punitive damages against Jones and Free Speech Systems.
- Bankruptcy developments: A bankruptcy judge tossed a prior auction (won by The Onion) to liquidate Infowars’ assets due to process issues; asset liquidation efforts have shifted to Texas state court.
- A receiver has been appointed by the Texas court to liquidate assets, and Jones is appealing that receivership order.
- Jones is separately appealing a $49 million defamation judgment in Texas related to another Sandy Hook case.
- Context on liability: The Connecticut default judgment was entered in 2021 after the court found repeated discovery noncompliance by Jones.
Supreme Court rejects Alex Jones' appeal of $1.4 billion defamation judgment
New information:
- The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Alex Jones’ appeal, leaving intact the roughly $1.4 billion Sandy Hook defamation judgment.
- Breakdown reaffirmed: a 2022 Connecticut jury awarded $965 million in compensatory damages; a judge added $474 million in punitive damages.
- Jones had separately sought emergency relief last week while the Court considered whether to take the case.