AUSTIN, Texas — Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones‘ media firm Free Speech Methods filed for chapter on Friday, however his lawyer mentioned it shouldn’t disrupt the defamation damages trial underway in Texas that seeks to pressure Jones to pay $150 million or extra to the household of one of many kids killed within the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty assault.
The trial in Austin, the place Jones lives and Free Speech Methods relies, wrapped up its first week of testimony Friday and is predicted to conclude subsequent week. The chapter submitting was introduced by Jones‘ lawyer Andino Reynal late within the day.
Reynal and attorneys for the household suing Jones informed Choose Maya Guerra Gamble that the chapter submitting wouldn’t halt the lawsuit.
The corporate needs “to place this a part of the odyssey behind us in order that now we have some numbers” set for damages, Reynal mentioned.
Particulars of the chapter submitting weren’t instantly accessible.
It isn’t the primary time a chapter submitting has come amid litigation in opposition to Jones by the Sandy Hook households. In April, Jones’ firm Infowars and two extra of his enterprise entities filed for chapter safety, which led to a trial delay.
Courts in Texas and Connecticut have already discovered Jones answerable for defamation for his portrayal of the Sandy Hook bloodbath as a hoax involving actors geared toward growing gun management. In each states, judges issued default judgements in opposition to Jones with out trials as a result of he failed to reply to courtroom orders and switch over paperwork.
Christopher Mattei, an lawyer for the Sandy Hook households within the Connecticut case, issued an announcement Friday night blasting the chapter submitting.
“Simply two days earlier than jury choice is because of start in Connecticut, Mr. Jones has as soon as once more fled like a coward to chapter courtroom in a clear try to delay going through the households that he has spent years hurting,” Mattei mentioned. “These households have an infinite properly of persistence and stay decided to carry Mr. Jones accountable in a Connecticut courtroom.”
The trial in Austin is to find out how a lot Jones ought to pay for defaming Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose 6-year-old son, Jesse Lewis, was among the many 20 kids and 6 educators who have been killed within the nation’s deadliest faculty capturing. They and different Sandy Hook households suing Jones say they’ve suffered years of harassment and threats ensuing from Jones‘ repeated false claims that the capturing was a hoax or didn’t occur.
Jones claimed in courtroom information final 12 months that he had a detrimental web value of $20 million, however attorneys for Sandy Hook households have painted a unique monetary image.
Courtroom information present that Jones’ Infowars retailer, which sells dietary dietary supplements and survival gear, made greater than $165 million between 2015 and 2018. Jones has additionally urged listeners on his Infowars program to donate cash.
• Related Press author Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.
