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Judge Blocks Settlement in Sandy Hook Families’ Case Against Alex Jones

A U.S. Bankruptcy Judge has intervened in a proposed settlement between the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims and Alex Jones, the controversial figure known for promoting conspiracy theories. The judge’s ruling effectively halts a plan that sought to facilitate a second auction attempt for Jones’ media company, Infowars.

On Wednesday, Judge Christopher Lopez ruled against the families’ effort to partition Jones’ assets, stating that their request exceeded the court’s jurisdiction. “I can’t do that,” Lopez remarked, as reported by Reuters. “That case is closed.”

This development complicates the potential sale of the Infowars platform and raises the stakes among the families involved. Those who successfully sued Jones in Connecticut have secured nearly $1.3 billion, while families from Texas were awarded $50 million. A proposed settlement sought to guarantee that the Texas families would receive 25% of any future payments made to the Sandy Hook families, with the Connecticut families retaining the remaining 75%.

Throughout his media career, Jones has propagated the false narrative that the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 20 children and six educators, was staged by “crisis actors” as a ploy to advance gun control policies. This rhetoric has led to severe harassment and threats against the families of the victims over the years.

Despite his earlier claims, Jones has recently acknowledged that the tragic events of Sandy Hook did indeed occur.

Implications of the Ruling

Jones’ legal troubles have resulted in the bankruptcy of Infowars and its parent company, Free Speech Systems, following significant judgments against him in 2022. Judge Lopez clarified that while Infowars and its parent company may still be sold amid Jones’ personal bankruptcy proceedings, he advocated for a combined sale rather than a piecemeal liquidation of assets.

According to reports from Courthouse News Service, Judge Lopez suggested that the families and Jones’ bankruptcy trustee should consider resolving the asset division in state court or present another settlement proposal. “What this debtor needs, and what these families need, is finality in bankruptcy so they can pursue their remedies in state court, which is where they started,” Lopez stated.

This recent ruling builds upon a previous decision from last December where Lopez rejected a proposed auction sale of Infowars to the satirical news outlet, The Onion. The judge had criticized various aspects of that bidding process and expressed concerns regarding the potential financial recovery for the families affected by the shootings.

The Onion intended to rebrand Infowars as a parody and remove Jones from operations, demonstrating the complex landscape surrounding Jones’ business and legal entanglements.

The families’ legal representatives had hoped that the settlement would ease the path for selling Jones’ assets, including Infowars, amidst ongoing disagreements over how to effectively pursue those assets. Historically, families from Texas have focused on maximizing financial returns, while those from Connecticut prioritized shutting down Infowars entirely. Chris Mattei, an attorney representing the Connecticut families, emphasized their commitment to “enforce every penny of judgments against Alex Jones.”

In contrast, Jones responded to the judge’s ruling during his live broadcast, claiming vindication against efforts to subdue him, turning his response into a marketing campaign for his products. “It takes a lot of money to fight these people,” he remarked. “Now we’re at the thick of the battle. … I need you to back me.”

Source
globalnews.ca