A Texas appeals court on Friday reduced a $50 million damages award against Infowars founder Alex Jones in a Sandy Hook defamation case to $1.5 million.

The ruling determined that the trial judge improperly allowed the Sandy Hook parents to exceed Texas' statutory cap on noneconomic damages. The reduction applies to one of the judgments stemming from Jones' false claims that the 2012 Newtown school shooting was a hoax.

The decision came from the Third Court of Appeals in Austin. Multiple news outlets reported the outcome based on court documents released today.

Jones has faced several lawsuits over his statements about the shooting. A separate Connecticut case resulted in much larger judgments against him. The Texas reduction does not affect those other awards.

Jones was ordered to pay the damages after a 2022 trial in which he was found liable for defamation. The appeals court found procedural errors in how the original award bypassed damage limits set by state law.

The parents of victims had argued for higher compensation due to emotional distress and other harms. The court sided with Jones on the cap issue while upholding the underlying liability finding.

This outcome limits Jones' immediate financial exposure in the Texas portion of the litigation. His company has already undergone bankruptcy proceedings related to the broader legal battles.

The case highlights ongoing disputes over damages in high-profile defamation suits. Legal observers note that statutory caps exist in many states to prevent excessive jury awards.