A Connecticut superior court granted a win to the families of eight people killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, suing broadcaster Alex Jones and his Infowars media outlet for defamation.
The judge in Connecticut ruled on Monday that because Jones refused to turn over documents ordered by the courts, including financial records, he was guilty by default, the New York Times reports. The ruling combines with three previous rulings in Texas to grant the families of 10 Sandy Hook shooting victims four victories in four defamation suits against Jones.
For years, Jones spread theories that the shooting that killed 20 first graders and six teachers was a government-led plot to confiscate Americans’ guns and that the victims’ families were actors in the plot.
The Sandy Hook families argue that Jones profited from spreading lies about the murders. Jones has disputed that, but failed to produce records to back his claims.
Juries in both states will next decide how much Jones should pay the families in damages.
