By JIM VERTUNO
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ media firm Free Speech Systems filed for chapter on Friday, however his lawyer stated it mustn’t disrupt the defamation damages trial underway in Texas that seeks to drive Jones to pay $150 million or extra to the household of one of many youngsters killed within the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School assault.
The trial in Austin, the place Jones lives and Free Speech Systems relies, wrapped up its first week of testimony Friday and is anticipated 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 Judge Maya Guerra Gamble that the chapter submitting wouldn’t halt the lawsuit.
The firm desires “to put this part of the odyssey behind us so that we have some numbers” set for damages, Reynal stated.
Details 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. Free Speech Systems is the mum or dad firm of Infowars.
Courts in Texas and Connecticut have already discovered Jones responsible for defamation for his portrayal of the Sandy Hook bloodbath as a hoax involving actors aimed 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 a press release Friday night blasting the chapter submitting.
“Just two days before jury selection is due to begin in Connecticut, Mr. Jones has once again fled like a coward to bankruptcy court in a transparent attempt to delay facing the families that he has spent years hurting,” Mattei stated. “These families have an endless well of patience and remain determined to hold Mr. Jones accountable in a Connecticut court.”
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 youngsters and 6 educators who have been killed within the nation’s deadliest faculty taking pictures. 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 taking pictures was a hoax or didn’t occur.
Jones claimed in courtroom information final 12 months that he had a unfavourable web value of $20 million, however attorneys for Sandy Hook households have painted a special monetary image.
Court 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.
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Associated Press author Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”