The case was brought by families of children and educators killed in the 2012 shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, and is now in the damages phase after Mr. Jones was previously found liable for defamation. It is part of a legal push to dispel the conspiracy theorist's misinformation. Last month, a jury in Texas, where Mr. Jones and his Infowars website are based, ordered him to pay nearly $50 million in damages to the parents of a 6-year-old boy killed in the shooting.
The Connecticut trial, as well as another in Texas, could add tens of millions of dollars in damages, though parallel bankruptcy proceedings filed by Infowars' parent company in July could delay when the families see any returns and affect how much they receive. In a court filing, Mr. Jones stated that the parent company of Infowars is responsible for covering potential damages assessed against him in the Connecticut defamation case, a claim Sandy Hook families may contest in bankruptcy court following trial.
Mr. Jones claimed for years that the school shooting, which killed 20 children and six adults, was a government-sponsored hoax. Mr. Jones was found liable for defamation by default in each of the defamation cases because he made the unusual decision not to participate in the legal proceedings. According to Sandy Hook families, Mr. Jones has also made efforts to avoid disclosing financial details.
Mr. Jones' attorney did not respond to requests for comment. Beyond their public court filings, the families' attorneys declined to comment.
Plaintiffs in the Connecticut case include the families of eight victims and a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent who was a first responder to the shooting. Mr. Jones allegedly used the agent's photograph online and referred to him as a "crisis actor," and they claim they were harassed by some of Mr. Jones's listeners who were influenced by his hoax claims. Mr. Jones has denied that his statements harmed the families, and his lawyers are expected to argue that the plaintiffs are only entitled to nominal damages.
The trial, which is expected to last four weeks, is being held less than 20 miles from Newtown. Families will try to convince the jury that Mr. Jones' comments were malicious, intentional, and motivated by greed. They have attempted to use the litigation as a financial deterrent to the profiteering dissemination of conspiracy theories.
Elon University law professor Enrique Armijo said it's unclear whether the verdicts will have such an impact, even if large damages awards result from each proceeding. The threat of legal repercussions may cause some commentators to reconsider spreading misinformation, but the trials may also encourage people to believe the theories, he says.
"There is only so much the law of defamation can do to prevent that," Mr. Armijo explained. Alex Jones "would not have amassed the wealth and fame he did if there was no market for what he was saying."
Mr. Jones' lawyers previously stated that they would appeal the Texas award, which could be reduced due to federal constitutional limits on punitive damages awards, as well as state caps. There is no cap on such awards in Connecticut.
Mr. Jones and Infowars' parent company, Free Speech Systems LLC, attempted to settle the defamation lawsuits for $10 million earlier this year.
Bankruptcy proceedings add another layer of complication to the legal battle. Mr. Jones filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in July against Free Speech Systems, a named defendant in the Connecticut case, which could be used to limit potential damages or delay collections, according to bankruptcy experts. The families have accused Mr. Jones of attempting to avoid paying them by abusing a bankruptcy process designed for struggling small businesses.
Infowars' sales increased dramatically during the August trial in Texas. The majority of the company's revenue comes from the sale of dietary supplements.