In a significant development in the legal saga surrounding the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Judge Christopher Lopez has blocked a proposed settlement involving Alex Jones and the families of the victims. The decision came from the US bankruptcy court for the southern district of Texas, casting uncertainty over how Jones's future payments will be distributed among the families. This follows a lengthy legal battle against Jones, who had falsely claimed that the tragic event was staged by "crisis actors."
The Sandy Hook massacre, which took place in Newtown, Connecticut, tragically claimed the lives of 20 children and six educators. Jones, a controversial figure and host of Infowars, perpetuated unfounded conspiracy theories suggesting the shooting was a hoax intended to enforce stricter gun control laws. As a result of his false remarks, a Connecticut state appellate court upheld a staggering $965 million verdict against him in 2022. Collectively, the families of the victims secured nearly $1.3 billion in damages in Connecticut courts, with an additional $50 million awarded by Texas courts.
To address how payments from Jones would be distributed, the families proposed a settlement that would allocate 75% of Jones's future payments to Connecticut families and 25% to Texas families. However, Judge Lopez halted this plan, citing concerns over asset division related to Free Speech Systems, Infowars' parent company. This entity had previously been dismissed from bankruptcy proceedings.
"At its core, this is something I can’t approve." – Judge Christopher Lopez
Jones's bankruptcy lawyers argued that the settlement aimed to secure funds before appellate courts could potentially reverse previous judgments, leaving Jones unable to recover them.
"The actual goal of this settlement motion is to grab the dividend money before the appellate courts make a decision in the pending appeals, so that if the judgments are reversed there will be no way that Alex Jones may recoup those funds." – Jones bankruptcy lawyers
Conversely, lawyers representing the Sandy Hook families emphasized that their proposal did not hinder Jones's right to appeal and represented a critical step toward resolving claims in the case.
"The proposed settlement explicitly does not impair Jones’s right to continue appealing the judgments rendered in the state court … The proposed settlement represents a major breakthrough in this case, resolving the allowed claim amounts of (Jones’) largest creditors – the Sandy Hook families – and paving the way for the trustee to begin making interim distributions." – Lawyers representing the Sandy Hook families
Judge Lopez suggested that the families and Jones's bankruptcy trustee might resolve this issue through state court or present another settlement proposal. The decision leaves both parties contemplating their next legal moves in a case that has drawn widespread attention and scrutiny.