Sandy Hook Families Win Right to View InfoWars Finances

(CN) - Six families who are suing Alex Jones and InfoWars for claiming the death of their loved ones at Sandy Hook Elementary School was a hoax will get access to the shows' marketing data and research, according to a Connecticut state court ruling on Friday.

The families will also receive electronic communications concerning a number of topics between InfoWars, Planet Prison TV, Free Speech Systems and employees of those organizations, though they will not be allowed access to the defendants’ tax returns.

“From the beginning, we have alleged that Alex Jones and his financial network trafficked in lies and hate in order to profit from the grief of Sandy Hook families,” Chris Mattei, an attorney for the plaintiffs said. “That is what we intend to prove, and today’s ruling advances our effort. We look forward to gaining access to InfoWars’ internal marketing and financial documents to show that Jones has built an empire as nothing more than a conspiracy profiteer, as alleged in our complaint.”

Jones and the other defendants have sought to dismiss the lawsuit.

"Plaintiffs suffered a horrible tragedy," Jay Wolman, attorney for Jones, wrote in a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. "Alex Jones and InfoWars are not responsible for this tragedy. To punish them for First Amendment protected speech on this matter of public concern will not bring back the lives lost."

The case, Lafferty v. Jones, alleges a years-long campaign of abusive and outrageous false statements in which Jones and other defendants developed, amplified and perpetuated claims that the Sandy Hook massacre was staged and that the 26 families who lost loved ones that day are paid actors who faked their relatives’ deaths.

According to the complaint, Jones’ actions subjected the families and survivors of the Sandy Hook shooting to physical confrontations and harassment, death threats and personal attacks on social media.

A hearing has been scheduled for next week to determine if the plaintiffs’ attorneys will be allowed to depose Jones.

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