Relatives of some of the 20 children and six teachers killed in the 2012 massacre in Newtown, Connecticut have sued Jones for defamation, saying they have been harassed and threatened with death by Jones fans. A judge has found Jones liable for damages and a lawsuit over how much he has to pay to the families is set for August.
Judge Barbara Bellis in Waterbury ordered the refund Thursday because Jones finally appeared in a rescheduled deposit last week. The fines, which escalated daily, were intended to ensure that Jones would appear for questioning.
Jones said he lost his testimony on March 23 and 24 in Austin, Texas – the home of the Jones and Infowars – due to a medical problem involving vertigo. He said his doctors initially thought it was a serious heart problem, but later it turned out to be a vaginal infection. Belis said there was not enough evidence that Jones was too ill to attend the deposition.
Jones paid a $ 25,000 daily fine for April 1 and another $ 50,000 daily fine for April 4. He then attended a deposition in Bridgeport on April 5 and 6.
A Sandy Hook family lawyer declined to comment Friday. There was a message left for Jones’s lawyer.
Jones was also held liable for damages in similar defamation lawsuits by relatives of the victims in Texas, where the trial is set to begin later this month. Jones has since said he believes the shooting happened.
