# About fucking time. The Sandy Hook families are suing Alex Jones for defamation **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 18, 2018, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612 "2018-04-18T03:05:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/41 "2018-04-19T19:53:09Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Exactly. JAQing off works in forums like this because we ultimately can’t hold the JAQer to account for their BS. But the courts can! The judge literally has the legal power to call them out on their crap and make it stick, equivocation notwithstanding. It’s my belief that this would be the best thing we could get out of this trial. If there’s a court on record that JAQing off isn’t a get-out-of-jail free card it could place a dampening effect on those who would lie about political issues and not care about the damage they do to the people about whom they lie. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/42 "2018-04-19T21:05:05Z")
[Fucker’s weaseling now](http://wshu.org/post/alex-jones-backtracking-now-says-sandy-hook-shooting-did-happen#stream/0): > [@](#): > > In a YouTube video, Jones said he now believes the shooting really happened, and that the families are being used by the Democratic Party and the news media. Jones invited the parents onto his program for a discussion about guns. Since the lawsuits are about stuff that’s already been done, this won’t stop or ameliorate them. He’s done the shit, he has to pay for it. This will, however, _not_ play well among the people who followed and supported Infowars over the years because they though Alex Jones was The Last Honest Man, the one who couldn’t be corrupted by the SJWs and Globalists and Cultural Marxists. If he does a big about-face now, in response to obvious pressure, he loses his cachet. This might hurt his case, too: If he says he’s changed his beliefs in response to evidence, well, he can’t very well say he was an actor playing a role, now, can he? He was someone spreading insane lies because he couldn’t be bothered to check them at any point in time prior to this lawsuit, and that kind of utter recklessness is an element of defamation. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/43 "2018-04-19T21:05:14Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > But Jones was on the stand under oath and said it wasn’t an act. He testified it’s a mix - sincere commentary, satire and humor. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/44 "2018-04-19T22:29:58Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > [Fucker’s weaseling now](http://wshu.org/post/alex-jones-backtracking-now-says-sandy-hook-shooting-did-happen#stream/0):Since the lawsuits are about stuff that’s already been done, this won’t stop or ameliorate them. He’s done the shit, he has to pay for it. > > This will, however, _not_ play well among the people who followed and supported Infowars over the years because they though Alex Jones was The Last Honest Man, the one who couldn’t be corrupted by the SJWs and Globalists and Cultural Marxists. If he does a big about-face now, in response to obvious pressure, he loses his cachet. > > This might hurt his case, too: If he says he’s changed his beliefs in response to evidence, well, he can’t very well say he was an actor playing a role, now, can he? He was someone spreading insane lies because he couldn’t be bothered to check them at any point in time prior to this lawsuit, and that kind of utter recklessness is an element of defamation. I just skimmed the front page of his Infowars website and his Twitter feed, and found no mention of this change of opinion there. I have no idea if he’s expressed on his radio or television show that he’s changed his mind. My point is that his backtracking should get as much prominence as the original false claims. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/45 "2018-04-19T23:09:01Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I didn’t say he was right. I said I see no evidence that what he did was done with a malicious or reckless intent that would support to a judgment against him. It is frightening to consider living in a society where you can be punished for just being intellectually mistaken or misled. And you are obliged to shut up just in case your view doesn’t prevail as the official one. So are you a lawyer or not? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/46 "2018-04-19T23:18:48Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > He testified it’s a mix - sincere commentary, satire and humor. [Meatloaf] One out of three ain’t bad. [/Meatloaf] ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/47 "2018-04-20T00:16:12Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > But Jones was on the stand under oath and said it wasn’t an act. He also said under oath that eating chili makes him forget his children’s ages, though. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/48 "2018-04-20T00:37:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > He also said under oath that eating chili makes him forget his children’s ages, though. Just how much chili is he eating?! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/49 "2018-04-20T00:48:24Z")
So, his defense is that it’s not malicious, because he has reason to believe every word, and it’s clearly joking, because obviously nobody could believe such nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/50 "2018-04-20T03:32:51Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > [Fucker’s weaseling now](http://wshu.org/post/alex-jones-backtracking-now-says-sandy-hook-shooting-did-happen#stream/0): > > > [@](#): > > > > In a YouTube video, Jones said he now believes the shooting really happened, and that the families are being used by the Democratic Party and the news media. Jones invited the parents onto his program for a discussion about guns. > > Since the lawsuits are about stuff that’s already been done, this won’t stop or ameliorate them. He’s done the shit, he has to pay for it. I’d argue that, even with this weaseling, he’s defaming them. “The families are being used by the Democratic Party”, because of course there’s no way the families could honestly think that better guns laws might actually be a desirable result. And I love the bit about inviting them on to his show. “Okay, sure, I spent years making you out to be evil liars working to destroy 'Murrica, but please, come on my show where I can exploit you some more as content for my advertising schemes!” And his show isn’t even a live TV broadcast, where you could at least see how many different ways you could call him a fuckhead live on air before they cut you off. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/51 "2018-04-20T04:07:17Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > It is frightening to consider living in a society where you can be punished for just being intellectually mistaken or misled. And you are obliged to shut up just in case your view doesn’t prevail as the official one. Well you can untwist your panties because no laws have been changed. So if you weren’t frigtened last year there’s no reason to be frightened now. People have the same rights and obligations that they had last year. So were you frightened last year too? If not, why not? And it is disingenuous of you to bring up in this thread people having different opinions or being mistaken. Defamation laws have been around for a long time. Are you claiming you just found out about them now? If you don’t understand them, wikipedia is free for you to access, and you can do it with one hand while you are untwisting your pants. The guy we are talking about in this thread is the worst kind of trash. Calling families who have just lost their children forever liars. How does he live with himself? I just can’t imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2018, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/52 "2018-04-20T18:00:10Z")
For those who are interested in following this case, here’s the Petition (what we would call a ‘Statement of Claim’) outlining the allegations: > **[Infowars.2.pdf](https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Infowars.2.pdf)** > > 4.84 MB ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2019, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/53 "2019-01-12T05:41:44Z")
There’s been a new ruling that lets some of the plaintiffs in the suits against Alex Jones have a look at the financial info in his InfoWars website. [https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/connecticut-judge-rules-for-sandy-hook-families-allows-review-of-financials-for-infowars-publisher-alex-jones/ar-BBS7XMJ?li=BBnb7Kz](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/connecticut-judge-rules-for-sandy-hook-families-allows-review-of-financials-for-infowars-publisher-alex-jones/ar-BBS7XMJ?li=BBnb7Kz) ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2022, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/54 "2022-08-05T13:57:12Z")
Now that a jury has awarded compensatory damages of $4 million, what are the odds the punitive damages will be much, much higher? Jones seems to be skating with a relatively light slap on the wrist after draining the company of money when the writing started appearing on the wall. “If you look at the bankruptcy filing, leading up to the declaration of bankruptcy, Alex Jones, the sole owner [of Free Speech Systems], took $62 million in draws in 2021 and 2022,” Moshenberg (one of the family attorneys) told CNN. “Just straight up draws. That’s why the company has few assets.” Speech may be free but lying has a cost, to paraphrase. But if the cost is so little and lying remains hugely profitable, why stop? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2022, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/55 "2022-08-05T15:25:54Z")
We’re supposed to find out about punitive damages in the next day or two, so I prefer to hold my outrage until it is called for. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2022, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/56 "2022-08-05T15:40:51Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > Now that a jury has awarded compensatory damages of $4 million, what are the odds the punitive damages will be much, much higher? In a little-reported outrage, the U.S. Supreme Court has invented a limit on the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded. The formula is complicated in theory, but in practice it means a 4 to 1 or maybe 10 to 1) ratio of compensatory to punitives is the most that the courts will allow. Here’s the decision if anyone is interested. ( Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented.) > **[{{meta.pageTitle}}](https://www.oyez.org/cases/2002/01-1289)** > > {{meta.description}} ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2022, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/57 "2022-08-05T22:17:10Z")
45.2 million in punitive. > **[Alex Jones ordered to pay $45.2M more over Sandy Hook lies](https://apnews.com/article/shootings-austin-texas-violence-e067a8bc031ce48be0810764c7bb3c18)** > > AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas jury on Friday ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay $45.2 million in punitive damages to the parents of a child who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, adding to the $4.1 million he must... ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2022, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/58 "2022-08-05T22:24:00Z")
Excellent. So, do the two posts prior to mine mean that he’s actually on the hook for that total? I hope all of the other families he’s terrorized also sue him and are awarded similar amounts. What a despicable human being. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2022, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/59 "2022-08-05T22:24:40Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I hope all of the other families he’s terrorized also sue him and are awarded similar amounts. What a despicable human being. I think there are two more trials coming up. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2022, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612/60 "2022-08-06T15:53:36Z")
I am willing to bet Jones will work diligently to evade paying anything. OJ Simpson was ordered to pay the Goldman’s $33.5 million. So far he has [paid very little.](https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2021/06/oj-simpson-still-fights-against-paying-millions-over-deaths-of-nicole-brown-simpson-ron-goldman.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-fucking-time-the-sandy-hook-families-are-suing-alex-jones-for-defamation/812612.md?page=4)