Cronkite school of journals.
Amna: Alex Jones has been
ordered to pay money for the
lies he's right about the sandy
hook elementary school massacre
in 2012.
He had falsely claimed the
attack that left more than 2000
people dead, including 20
children, was a hoax, and
accused a grieving parent of
being an actor in the days after
the murders.
Texas jury awarded nearly $50
million in a separate damages
trial this summer.
Jones likely faces another trial
before the year is up.
For some perspective on the
scope of this award and what
happens now, we turn to Jesse, a
lawyer in California who works
on civil and criminal cases.
Welcome to the newshour.
Thank you for joining us.
Let's start with some context on
this verdict.
It is an enormous amount of
money.
What did you think when you
heard the damages being awarded?
Jesse: Wow, quite frankly.
It is probably one of the
largest defamation verdicts in
U.S. History and it is
compensatory, meaning there is
still going to be up to 10 times
as much under the United States
constitution.
So we are going to see probably
this verdict at least double or
triple or maybe even up to 10
times more.
Amna: It was an incredibly
emotional trial with emotional
testimony.
Did that play a role in the size
of the verdict that was
eventually awarded?
Jesse: Assuredly.
This verdict says two things.
Number one, it says we hate Alex
Jones, number two, that we are
inflamed and we feel that these
parents have lost something very
special to them and we are going
to do our best to give it back
to them with our verdict.
Amna: We should point out,
earlier this year, info wars and
its parent company did file for
bankruptcy protections.
What kind of impact could not
have on the amount that is
actually paid out?
Jesse: Well, the verdict is
against Alex Jones and the
company.
Alex Jones may end up filing for
bankruptcy protection as well.
His estimated net worth is
anywhere between 170 to 135 to
270 million so he may declare
bankruptcy as well.
It is certainly possible that
this verdict and the Texas
verdict could be swept up in
bankruptcy and significantly
decreased under U.S. Bankruptcy
law.
Amna: You mentioned that Texas
verdict and I want to get your
analysis on the difference in
you see between the Texas
verdict that's around 50 million
dollars and was eventually
knocked down because of state
limits because of those kind of
awards and the damages we saw
awarded today.
How do you see the difference
between what unfolded in Texas
and what happened in
Connecticut?
Jesse: It is hard not to draw
the inference that the two
different jury pools are
somewhat politically motivated.
The compensatory damages in the
Texas verdict was $4 million.
The compensatory damages in the
Connecticut verdict is $965
million.
That is a 960 $1 million
difference in compensatory
damages.
We still have to see punitive
damages in Connecticut so the
difference could be far more
striking.
I think it is safe to say that
the Connecticut verdict is a far
more liberal jury pool that had
to have factored into their
verdict.
Amna: We learned later today
that Jones's lawyer says they
plan to appeal.
We should remind folks that Mr.
Jones was spreading these lies
for years, saying that the whole
attack was a hoax.
In some cases, parents were
responsible for the deaths of
their own children.
He is not alone in spreading
some of these lies and I wonder
as you look at this moment what
you think this verdict says in
the way of a message it sends
about the legal landscape
surrounding holding those who
spread misinformation
accountable in some way.
Jesse: Well, if you are
profiting off of conspiracy
theories that are defamatory,
that are obviously false, you
need to watch yourself.
And a litigant can clearly
prosper in two very separate
forms.
And I think that it sends a
strong message to people that
are making money on lies.
And especially given that this
is not the end.
We have the punitive damages
verdict and we also have a third
sandy hook lawsuit so I think
that it sends a strong message
to people who are in the
business of peddling
conspiracies.
Amna: That is a trial attorney
in California joining us
tonight.
Thank you for your time.
>> Thank you for having me.