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.

  • PatFusty
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    11 months ago

    Not really understanding how this is considered justice.

    • Car@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      11 months ago

      Nobody’s being made whole from this judgement I suppose. This isn’t the kind of thing where a physical object can be replaced.

      What’s your suggestion for how the court should have doled out justice?

      • PatFusty
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        11 months ago

        Give out the state maximum punishment of $1k for punitive damages in connecticut… i think worst case is the $300k punitive damages for state of Texas or 1% of net worth if class action.

        I actually am not super familiar with the case but I dont think anyone on earth has a liquid $1B unless you are saudi royalty…

        But there were (4?) cases right? Each of the families got between 300M and 500M? Hes not the one that killed the babies, what kind of precedence are they trying to make?

        • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          The argument against him is that he actively instigated and encouraged a campaign of harrassment and assault on these families through heinous, libelous lies.

          Oh, and then he lied to the judge. Really don’t do that.

          • PatFusty
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            11 months ago

            Ok, even if he did all that does that warrant losing everything? At what point should we stop and say “yeah thats excessive”?

            • YoFrodo@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              When he’s destitute. What he did is completely abhorrent, disgusting, and detestable. To target the families of school shooting victims is just unconscionable. He knew he was lying but he did it to profit off of the controversy. He absolutely should lose everything.

              • PatFusty
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                11 months ago

                Is 1.5B considered destitute? Does the damage he did worth 1.5B dollars? Why is it special to him

                • YoFrodo@lemmy.world
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                  11 months ago

                  You asked “at what point should we stop” and my answer is when he is destitute.

                  The fine is punitive. Its a punishment and a deterrent to other charlatan shock jocks who would like nothing more than to use the suffering of others as their ramp to fame and fortune. Im not sure its ‘special’ but he is one of the most famous of these modern day snake oil salesmen and has a massive fan base.

                  • PatFusty
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                    11 months ago

                    What is the maximum punitive damages limit for a non injury suit in CT again? Or was the lawsuit trying to claim personal injury? Is this the same case where the families tried to sue for every single person he had as a follower? Lol it was like 2 TRILLION dollars they originally asked for. Is that not comically large or is that just considered destitute?

                • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                  11 months ago

                  Maybe his lawyers shouldn’t have accidentally leaked all those text messages showing how undeniably guilty he was to the opposition and then refuse to answer when the opposition asked if it was a mistake and the jury wouldn’t have awarded that level of damages.

                  • PatFusty
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                    11 months ago

                    “They ruined our lives so we should at the very least be able to ruin him financially for the rest of his life”. I doubt any of this is going to be paid. Ill set up a butt slapping line a mile out if he pays 1 billion dollars.

        • ZeroCool@feddit.ch
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          11 months ago

          I actually am not super familiar with the case

          And yet you’re happy to lecture us on the appropriateness of the outcome. Interesting.

          • PatFusty
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            11 months ago

            Do i need to know every detail of the case in order to make judgement? Ok sure