Texas Appeals Court Reduces Alex Jones' Punitive Damages but Billion-Dollar Liability Remains
An appeals court in Texas cut Alex Jones' punitive damages by more than $40 million, yet he still owes over $1 billion in defamation judgments from Connecticut and the remaining Texas award.
A Texas appellate court on Friday reduced the punitive damages awarded against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones in a defamation case related to the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The ruling lowered the punitive portion from more than $40 million to $1.5 million, leaving roughly $6 million in damages still enforceable. The court affirmed the finding of defamation, but the reduction reflects the state's cap on punitive awards.
Jones, who founded the Infowars platform, continues to face a $1.25 billion judgment from a Connecticut lawsuit and the remaining $6 million Texas judgment. He has appealed both decisions, and a prior request for review by the U.S. Supreme Court was denied.
"I got lawyers who are good constitutional lawyers, and they are not backing down," Jones said, characterizing the Texas ruling as a victory for free speech.
Representing the Sandy Hook families, attorney Mark Bankston said the Texas decision does not affect the larger liability, noting that the families are focused on the billion-dollar judgment.
The families have not yet collected any money from Jones, who filed for bankruptcy in 2022 and surrendered the Infowars platform. He continues to broadcast on other websites and sell merchandise that generates significant revenue.
The satirical publication The Onion has announced plans to use the Infowars brand for parody content, with proceeds from related merchandise intended to support the Sandy Hook families.