Alex Jones ordered to pay $473M more to Sandy Hook families

The capital city of Connecticut,Hartford. The judge ordered Alex Jones and his company to pay an additional $473 million for promoting false conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook school massacre.

The judge imposed the damages on the host of the show. The massacre that killed 20 first graders and six educators was staged by crisis actors, according to Jones.

The judge concluded that the defendants' conduct was intentional and malicious, and certain to cause harm by virtue of their infrastructure, ability to spread content, and massive audience.

Punitive damages include $150 million for violations of Connecticut's Unfair Trade Practices Act, which prohibits deceptive business practices and unfair competition.

Eight victims' relatives and an FBI agent testified about being harassed and threatened by people who deny the shooting happened. Some people confronted others in public after showing up at their homes. The people made abusive comments on social media. Some got death and rape threats.

The jury ordered Jones to pay $965 million for defamation, emotional distress, and violation of the unfair trade act.

Jones thought the trial was unfair and an attack on free speech rights. He will be appealing the verdicts. He doesn't have the money to pay such huge verdicts because he has less than $2 million to his name. Free Speech Systems is trying to get protection from insolvency.

Last year, Bellis found Jones and his company liable for damages without a trial because they failed to turn over financial documents and other records to the people who sued them. The jury only had to decide on the amount of damages after the default ruling.

Jones said that the default ruling deprived him of his right to present a defense against the lawsuit.

The lawyer for the Sandy Hook families said he hoped the jury's decision would send a message to conspiracy theorists.

The court recognized the conduct of Mr. Jones and his businesses.

There was a message for Jones' lawyer.

Damages for defamation and emotional distress are limited in Connecticut. Under the terms of the retainer agreement, the Sandy Hook lawyers will get one-third of the $965 million in damages.

There is no cap on the amount of damages that can be awarded. Under the unfair trade law, such damages could be as high as $2.75 trillion.

In Texas, Jones was ordered to pay $50 million to the parents of a child killed in the Sandy Hook shooting for calling it a hoax. Jones and Free Speech Systems have a combined net worth of as much as $270 million, according to a forensic economist.

The third and final trial over Jones' claims is expected to start by the end of the year. In both Texas cases, Jones was found liable for damages without a trial because he failed to turn over records.