A Texas appellate court issued a unanimous decision reducing a damages award against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones in a case brought by Sandy Hook shooting survivors’ families. The Texas Third Court of Appeals lowered the judgment from $50 million to $1.5 million on Friday, determining that the plaintiffs did not present sufficient evidence of harassment to justify damages exceeding the state’s $750,000 cap.
The case involved allegations that Jones promoted false narratives about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which resulted in 26 deaths including 20 children and six staff members. Parents Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose six-year-old son was among those killed, brought the action against Jones for spreading claims that the shooting was staged and that victims were actors. According to the families’ allegations, Jones’s statements on his Infowars platform led to ongoing harassment, including death threats and forced relocations.
The reduction applies only to claims brought by Heslin and Lewis in Texas. An attorney for the parents characterized the ruling as having minimal practical impact, noting that Jones still faces approximately $1 billion in total liability across multiple jurisdictions. The decision does not affect a separate Connecticut ruling that ordered Jones to pay $1.25 billion for similar false claims about the shooting.
Jones, whose media company has filed for bankruptcy and whose Infowars brand was transferred in April, characterized the ruling as a victory for First Amendment protections. He indicated plans to appeal to the Texas state Supreme Court to seek dismissal of remaining charges. Jones continues broadcasting online and distributing content through social media platforms including X.
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