The Sandy Hook families generally did not pay their lawyers' fees upfront. Instead, they entered into a contingency fee agreement, meaning their attorneys only get paid if and when they actually recover money from Alex Jones.
While the lawyers' time is covered by the contingency, the actual costs of litigation—such as travel, expert witnesses, and filing fees—must still be covered. As of late 2022, the law firm reported spending nearly $1.7 million in out-of-pocket costs to litigate the Connecticut case.
In Connecticut, a judge specifically awarded the families $473 million in punitive damages. These were calculated by the judge based on the legal fees the families would owe their lawyers, effectively ordering Alex Jones to pay the families' legal bill on top of the original $965 million verdict.