Recommended Free Tools
Leonard Pozner, father of Sandy Hook victim Noah Pozner, won a defamation case against James Fetzer in Wisconsin. A Dane County jury awarded Pozner $450,000 in damages in 2019. That was not the full judgment: after adding fees and costs, the circuit court entered an amended judgment of $1,107,395.13 in 2020.
Who received the $450,000 award?
The plaintiff was Leonard Pozner, whose six-year-old son Noah was among the 26 people killed in the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The defendant was James Fetzer, an author and conspiracy theorist. This was a Wisconsin case against Fetzer, separate from defamation cases brought by other Sandy Hook families against Alex Jones in Texas and Connecticut.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Surf's Up | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Return To Never Land (With Bonus) | $20.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Peter Pan Return to Neverland | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
What statements led to the lawsuit?
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals described the suit as arising from statements Fetzer published about a copy of Noah Pozner’s death certificate. The court said Fetzer alleged that the certificate was a “fake,” “forgery,” and “fabrication.” The trial court’s post-verdict order characterized the case as involving statements denying the existence of Pozner’s son. CBS News reported that Fetzer’s book Nobody Died at Sandy Hook was part of the conspiracy-theory context.
How did the final judgment reach $1,107,395.13?
The $450,000 was the jury’s damages verdict, not the all-in judgment. The Dane County Circuit Court later added $650,000 in attorneys’ fees and $7,395.13 in allowed fees and costs.
#1 Best Overall
| Judgment component | Amount | What it represents |
|---|---|---|
| Jury damages award | $450,000 | Dane County jury verdict in 2019. |
| Attorneys’ fees | $650,000 | Amount ordered by the circuit court and included in the amended judgment in 2020. |
| Allowed fees and costs | $7,395.13 | Amount listed in the amended judgment in 2020. |
| Total amended judgment | $1,107,395.13 | Jury award plus attorneys’ fees, fees, and costs. |
What happened on appeal?
On March 18, 2021, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals affirmed the circuit-court rulings. A later case-history filing records that the Wisconsin Supreme Court denied Fetzer’s petition for review on February 16, 2022. The appellate history therefore left the Wisconsin rulings in place.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the judgment does—and does not—establish
The court records establish the verdict, the amended judgment’s components, and the appellate history. They do not establish whether Pozner collected any particular amount, how much remains unpaid, or Fetzer’s present financial circumstances. The judgment total should not be treated as proof of the amount ultimately collected.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
