The Connecticut Appellate Court on Friday reduced a $1.44 billion judgment against Infowars host Alex Jones to $1.29 billion. The panel found that the state’s consumer protection laws did not permit Sandy Hook families to recover damages linked to Jones’ product sales. However, the court upheld key aspects of the trial court’s findings, including massive compensatory and punitive damages awarded for defamation and emotional distress.
Consumer Protection Claims Dismissed
The appellate panel determined that claims under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) were not applicable, reducing the overall judgment by $150 million. The court ruled that Jones’ speech, while offensive, was not strictly commercial and therefore did not fall under CUTPA’s provisions.
Despite this reduction, the appellate court supported the core findings of the trial court, stating the jury’s verdict did not demonstrate bias or improper influence.
Default Judgment and Damages
The appellate decision came after Jones challenged the 2022 trial court judgment, which included $965 million in compensatory damages awarded to Sandy Hook families and $473 million in punitive damages. The trial court entered a default judgment against Jones in 2021 after repeated discovery violations, a move he argued freed plaintiffs from proving their case.
