Attorneys for three friends of Nolan Xavier Wells filed six more defamation lawsuits Tuesday in federal and state court, accusing social media users of making false claims about the young men in connection with Wells’ death.
Mississippi attorney Tyler Cox is representing the fathers of the friends — Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour — along with defamation and media law attorney Edward Paltzik. The fathers are acting on behalf of their sons, who are between 18 and 21 years old and considered minors in Mississippi.
All three young men were with Wells during a July 4 trip to Horn Island.
The attorneys filed the first lawsuit Monday against NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens over a post on X that included a photo of the three young men with the words, “ARREST THEM IMMEDIATELY!! LIKE YESTERDAY!!”
The post included a link to an Instagram video posted by social media producer “Trent Out Loud.” identified by Cox as Trent Hall.
The attorneys filed a second lawsuit Tuesday in federal court in Gulfport against Hall, accusing the Canadian resident of defaming the young men in the aftermath of Wells’ death.
Wells, 18, of Ocean Springs, went missing during the July 4 trip to Horn Island with a group of about 30 friends. The group traveled to the barrier island on three boats, but the friends returned without Wells, saying he stayed behind to talk to a girl.
Two days later, on July 6, authorities found Wells’ body in the water off the northwest tip of Horn Island, about 10 miles...
Attorneys for three friends of Nolan Xavier Wells filed six more defamation lawsuits Tuesday in federal and state court, accusing social media users of making false claims about the young men in co...