Alex Jones must pay $1.1 billion of Sandy Hook damages despite bankruptcy - court

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

NEW YORK, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones cannot use his personal bankruptcy to escape paying at least $1.1 billion in defamation damages stemming from his repeated lies about the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school massacre, a U.S. bankruptcy judge ruled Thursday.

Bankruptcy can be used to wipe out debts and legal judgments, but not if they result from "willful or malicious injury" caused by the debtor, according to a decision by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston, Texas.

Courts in Connecticut and Texas have already ruled that Jones intentionally defamed relatives of school children killed in the mass shooting, and they have ordered Jones to pay $1.5 billion in damages.

Lopez ruled that more than $1.1 billion of those verdicts, awarded for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress, cannot be wiped away in bankruptcy. But he ruled that other parts of the verdicts, including $324 million in attorneys' fees that were awarded as punitive damages in the Connecticut case, could possibly be discharged.

-snip-

By Dietrich Knauth
October 19, 2023 5:56 PM EDT Updated 15 min ago


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/alex-jones-cant-avoid-sandy-hook-verdicts-bankruptcy-judge-2023-10-19/

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Alternate non-paywalled link: https://news.yahoo.com/alex-jones-cant-avoid-sandy-202416200.html

[Elessar Zappa]

1. Good.

Garnish his assets if he doesn’t pay up soon.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. It took forever to get some movement on this and at least clarify stuff

[DJ Porkchop]

3. He won't pay a quarter of that.

He doesn't have it.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2022/10/13/alex-jones-likely-doesnt-have-1-billion-he-does-own-five-homes-in-texas-though/?sh=bc0f62d426b4

[Arthur_Frain]

17. Okay

I want him to pay every single cent he ever earns from here on in.

It’s still nowhere near fair, but it accomplishes him not having a pot to piss in.

[Kennah]

18. So long as he's broke, I'm happy

[Kablooie]

23. At least not in the US

I’m sure some island bank holds the bulk of his wealth.

[TrueBlueBlackQueen]

4. He F'd around and found out.

This makes my day.

[COL Mustard]

6. Mine too!

And welcome to DU!

[TrueBlueBlackQueen]

32. Thanks!

😊

[Windicator]

5. Republican propagandist paying Bigly for his Bigly lies

Make them all pay.

GOP has an all-out war against truth.

Fuggin evil.

[Oopsie Daisy]

7. It will never happen. But, hopefully it means that he won't retire in luxury.

[Chi67]

8. Never say never

It may not be $1 billion, but he will have to pay quite a bit eventually:

Without that cash, Jones will be forced to hand over his personal assets, according to bankruptcy attorney Brian Davidoff, who notes that there are some state exemptions. At least one of Jones’ properties will likely be protected by Texas’ Homestead Law, which prevents creditors from seizing certain properties to prevent homelessness. “If he’s got five homes, not all of them are going to qualify [for an exemption],” says Davidoff. Apart from those covered by the exemptions, “all the other assets will be available for the judgment.” As for the home Jones transferred to his wife, that too could be seized by creditors if a court decides that it was a “fraudulent” transfer made intentionally to avoid creditors.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2022/10/13/alex-jones-likely-doesnt-have-1-billion-he-does-own-five-homes-in-texas-though/?sh=30d79e4d426b

[JohnnyRingo]

9. He better not buy anything more than a pack of gum.

The lawyers will be keeping track of his expenses in case he has money stashed.
.

[bobby202]

22. his house

I lived in n. east texass & homestead does not stop forfeit of the house or property under bankruptcy ! As far as lawsuit , irs will put jones on what's know as U.S.banks blackball list . try's to open a bank account, Irs gets notified instantly ! reason I know this is my good freind had this happen in a divorce ! Bankruptcy does not get you out of everything!

[ToxMarz]

25. It will offer protection of your primary residence IF you own it free and clear

But it won't wipe out a mortgage AND allow you to keep the home. There are some other extenuating circumstances that may come into play but in general it does offer protection.

[Shermann]

10. Here's a great video related to the original $1 billion judgement

Criminal lawyer Bruce Rivers reacts to Alex Jones reacting to the judgement in this video. He is entertaining and informative.

[SouthernDem4ever]

11. Find everywhere he's hiding money

It's time to pay for your sins Alex.

[twodogsbarking]

12. He deserves anything that is dished out times a million.

[moonshinegnomie]

13. under texas law this is what he can keep in bankruptcy

http://www.texasbankruptcylaw.com/exemptions.html

so he would get to keep one of his 5 houses (probally whichever one he claims as his homestead for texas property taxes
1 of his cars.
and a few other personal effects.

[republianmushroom]

14. I like this ruling.

[Mike Nelson]

15. Well...

... he won't be able to pay that much... maybe there is a government program that can place him in a job? He's relatively young, still... not retirement age, I don't think. Maybe he can work in a prison, since he is probably in some legal trouble. It won't be much, but the rent is low and he can pay his victims a little something.

[live love laugh]

16. NOW will you shut the f--k up Alex!?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

20. Fuck that bastard into the cold soil that the victims now enjoy.

[mysteryowl]

21. Good!

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

24. good.

[melm00se]

26. This is all well and good

but, from past experience, let me tell you what will really happen:

Assets

Not all assets are attachable. While this action is taking place in federal court, there are states that have very large exemptions. Florida is one such state. Levying against real property in FL is damn near impossible because FL exemption protects up to 1/2 acre of real property in a city and up to 160 acres in an unincorporated county from property liens and forced sale. So if Alex owns a $10 million house on 1/2 acre, that is untouchable.

Additionally, any and all tax deferred retirement style accounts are also exempt from seizure. The reasoning behind this is that the state cannot force liquidation of an asset that would trigger a tax penalty. That is viewed as a conflict of interest.

Income

The federal government as well as states have minimum thresholds for wage garnishments. The federal government, for example, caps garnishments at 25% of a person's disposable income. There are some exceptions to this like child support and back taxes but those would not apply here. Additionally, not all states allow for wage/income garnishments.

Additionally, this applies to wages only. I have seen people live off credit cards where they are a user but someone else pays the bills. Creditors (even the federal government) cannot levy Sally's income/assets to satisfy Bob's judgment.

Asset ownership and location

Creditors need to prove that any levy targets are actually owned by the debor(s) and are legally attachable. That can be a significant chore when there are shell companies within other shell companies within even more shell companies layered with non-USA locations, entities and reporting requirements.

Those are just a few issues, there are tons more.

Professional deadbeats are expert at hiding assets. They play infinitely complex 3 card monte and shell games which confounds even the most expert forensic accountants.

The huge judgment against Alex Jones will probably see an immediate payment but after that? The money will never be found. Never be traced. Payments after the initial one(s) will be blind luck or if the debtor is incredibly stupid and gets caught.

The judgment and the creditors will see nothing more than nickels and dimes over the years and Alex Jones, while probably not living his previous high life, will continue to live a comfortable living.

[SKKY]

27. This is what you call the "Find Out" phase...

...kinda sucks huh? Kinda wish you hadn't fucked around?

[LymphocyteLover]

28. That's gotta hurt! I hope!

[ejbr]

29. Can he be forced to pay?

Because I hear no one has yet to get a cent, and no one in the legal field seems to find this outrageous

[BobTheSubgenius]

30. I look forward to his imminent podcast.

[u]Couch-surfing With Alex.

[Playingmantis]

31. I read where this bastard has

simply hidden his money and refused to pay and there is little that can be done to get it... I hope I am wrong

[Mz Pip]

34. It's amazing, isn't it?

The IRS can garnish wages of some poor guy who made a mistake. Why can’t the courts do the same with Jones?

Rich people get away with way too much.

[TexasBushwhacker]

33. I want to see him living in a van down by the river n/t

[republianmushroom]

35. Good