The bankruptcy submitting was introduced by Jones’ lawyer Andino Reynal late within the day on Friday.
AUSTIN, Texas — Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ media company Free Speech Systems filed for bankruptcy on Friday, however his lawyer mentioned it shouldn’t disrupt the defamation damages trial underway in Texas that seeks to power Jones to pay $150 million or extra to the household of one of many kids killed within the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School assault.
The trial in Austin, the place Jones lives and Free Speech Systems is predicated, wrapped up its first week of testimony Friday and is predicted to conclude subsequent week. The bankruptcy 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 bankruptcy submitting wouldn’t halt the lawsuit.
The company desires “to put this part of the odyssey behind us so that we have some numbers” set for damages, Reynal mentioned.
Details of the bankruptcy submitting weren’t instantly accessible.
It is not the first time a bankruptcy submitting has come amid litigation in opposition to Jones by the Sandy Hook households. In April, Jones’ company Infowars and two extra of his enterprise entities filed for bankruptcy safety, which led to a trial delay. Free Speech Systems is the mother or father company of Infowars.
RELATED: Alex Jones’ Infowars files for bankruptcy safety
Courts in Texas and Connecticut have already discovered Jones liable 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 judgments 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 bankruptcy 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 said. “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 kids and 6 educators who have been killed within the nation’s deadliest college 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 did not occur.
Jones claimed in courtroom data final 12 months that he had a detrimental web price of $20 million, however attorneys for Sandy Hook households have painted a special monetary image.
Court data 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.
2 tickets in Texas received $1M in Mega Millions. Here’s the place they have been bought.
Body, automotive pulled from pond in Georgetown following crash, officers say
Forced relocations start at Congress Mobile Home Park in South Austin
story by The Texas Tribune Source link