abcnews.go.com
Open in
urlscan Pro
18.66.122.70
Public Scan
URL:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/explainer-jurors-weigh-cost-alex-jones-sandy-hook-91149950
Submission: On October 13 via api from PL — Scanned from DE
Submission: On October 13 via api from PL — Scanned from DE
Form analysis 1 forms found in the DOM
<form><span class="search"><span aria-label="Open Search Bar" class="search__trigger search__trigger--default" role="button" tabindex="0"></span><span class="search--default"><input type="text" aria-label="Search Headlines, News and Video..."
class="search__input" placeholder="Search Headlines, News and Video..." tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="search__input__submit" tabindex="-1"><span class="search__input__icon"></span></span></span></form>Text Content
ABC NEWS VIDEO LIVE SHOWS 2022 MIDTERM ELECTIONS JAN. 6 Interest Successfully Added We'll notify you here with news about Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? OffOn breaking Social Security benefits to increase 8.7% in 2023 EXPLAINER: JURORS WEIGH COST OF ALEX JONES' SANDY HOOK LIES A Connecticut jury is deliberating on how much conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and his company must pay victims’ families for calling the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School a hoax ByDAVE COLLINS Associated Press October 7, 2022, 9:09 PM 1:45 Infowars founder Alex Jones appears in court to testify during the Sandy Hook defamation damages trial at Connecticu...Read MoreRead More The Associated Press WATERBURY, Conn. -- For a decade, the parents and siblings of people killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting have been tormented and harassed by people who believe the mass shooting was a hoax. How do you put a price tag on their suffering? That's part of the task faced by a Connecticut jury that has been asked to decide how much Infowars host Alex Jones and his company should pay for spreading a conspiracy theory that the massacre never happened. The six jurors deliberated for less than an hour Thursday before breaking for the evening. They didn't reach a verdict Friday and are scheduled to resume work next week. Jones now acknowledges his conspiracy theories about the shooting were wrong, but says he isn't to blame for the actions of people who harassed the families. His lawyers also say the 15 plaintiffs have exaggerated stories about being subjected to threats and abuse. Here are some questions and answers about the deliberations. COULD THE JURY DECIDE THAT WHAT JONES DID IS PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT? No. A judge has already ruled that Jones is liable for defamation, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and violating Connecticut's unfair trade practices law. The jury’s job is to decide how much he owes for harming the people who sued him over his lies. HOW MUCH COULD JONES PAY? Jones, who lives in Austin, Texas, could be ordered to pay as little as $1 to each plaintiff or potentially hundreds of millions of dollars to them. The decision will be based on whether the jury determines the harm to the families was minimal or extensive. Christopher Mattei, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said the jury should award the plaintiffs at least $550 million. Jones' lawyer, Norm Pattis, says any damages awarded should be minimal. HOW DOES THE JURY COME UP WITH THE DOLLAR FIGURES? In her instructions to the jury, Judge Barbara Bellis said there are no mathematical formulas for determining dollar amounts. Jurors, she said, should use their life experiences and common sense to award damages that are “fair, just and reasonable.” The jury, however, heard evidence and testimony that Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems, made millions of dollars from selling nutritional supplements, survival gear and other items. A company representative testified it has made at least $100 million in the past decade. WHAT KIND OF DAMAGES ARE THE JURY CONSIDERING? Jurors could award both compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages are often meant to reimburse people for actual costs such as medical bills and income loss, but they also include compensation for emotional distress that can reach into the millions of dollars. Punitive damages are meant to punish a person for their conduct. If the jury decides Jones should pay punitive damages, the judge would determine the amount. DOES CONNECTICUT CAP DAMAGES? No, and yes. The state does not limit compensatory damages, while punitive damages are limited in many cases to attorney's fees and costs. So if the jury says Jones should pay punitive damages, he would potentially have to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Sandy Hook families' lawyers' costs. IS THIS THE FIRST TIME JONES HAS FACED A VERDICT LIKE THIS? No. At a similar trial in Texas in August, a jury ordered the Infowars show host to pay nearly $50 million to the parents of one of the children killed in the school shooting for pushing the lie that the massacre was a hoax. But legal experts say Jones probably won't pay the full amount. In most civil cases, Texas law limits how much defendants have to pay in “exemplary,” or punitive, damages to twice the “economic damages” plus up to $750,000. But jurors are not told about this cap. Eye-popping verdicts are often hacked down by judges. A third trial in Texas involving the parents of another child slain at Sandy Hook is expected to begin near the end of the year. ——— Find AP’s full coverage of the Alex Jones trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/alex-jones Related Topics Sandy Hook -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GEERS Gunzenhausen: GEERS sucht 700 Testhörer vor 1972 geborenGEERS Undo slow-watches.com Handgefertigt in der Schweiz: 24 Std und nur 1 Zeiger. Die Slow Uhr hilft dir, im Moment zu leben.slow-watches.comMehr erfahren Undo Deutsche Post Vermeiden Sie Emissionen beim Versand Ihrer Briefe!Deutsche PostMehr erfahren Undo Alex Jones 'boycotts' defamation trial as Connecticut jury to soon hear closing arguments in damages phase Undo Texas officer fired after shooting hamburger-eating teenager Undo Jury reaches verdict on how much Alex Jones should pay Sandy Hook victims Undo Hörgeräte Vergleich Rentner können jetzt von gratis Hörgeräten profitierenHörgeräte Vergleich Undo ionos.de 5 Tipps für Ihre erfolgreiche Websiteionos.de Undo Taonga: Die Inselfarm Wenn Sie über 30 sind, macht dieses Spiel süchtig. Keine Installation nötigTaonga: Die InselfarmJetzt spielen Undo by Taboolaby Taboola Sponsored LinksSponsored Links Promoted LinksPromoted Links TOP STORIES 2 OFFICERS KILLED AFTER PHONY 911 CALL AND AMBUSH WITH AR-15: SOURCES * 38 minutes ago 'PRAYED FOR DEATH': AMERICANS FREED FROM RUSSIA CLAIM TORTURE AT 'BLACK SITE' * 3 hours ago SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS TO INCREASE 8.7% IN 2023 * 11 minutes ago SANDY HOOK FAMILIES AWARDED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN ALEX JONES DEFAMATION TRIAL * Oct 12, 10:09 PM IS SOCIAL SECURITY ON THE GOP'S CHOPPING BLOCK' AS BIDEN CLAIMS? EXPERTS WEIGH IN * Oct 13, 9:05 AM ABC NEWS LIVE 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events ABC NEWS NETWORK PRIVACY POLICY YOUR CA PRIVACY RIGHTS CHILDREN'S ONLINE PRIVACY POLICY INTEREST-BASED ADS ABOUT NIELSEN MEASUREMENT TERMS OF USE DO NOT SELL MY INFO CONTACT US Copyright © 2022 ABC News Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.