Lawyer: Victim of Massachusetts fire had sued InfoWars

May 19, 2022, 11:31 AM | Updated: 1:49 pm

One of the four people who died in a fire at a Massachusetts apartment building last weekend had filed a defamation lawsuit against right-wing radio host Alex Jones and his InfoWars website in 2018, alleging they falsely identified him as the gunman in a massacre at a Florida high school.

Authorities in Worcester, Massachusetts, released the names of the victims of last Saturday’s blaze on Wednesday, including Marcel Fontaine, 29. The others were Joseph Garchali, 47; Christopher Lozeau, 53; and Vincent Page, 41. Fontaine and Garchali lived in the same unit.

Fontaine sued Jones, InfoWars and an InfoWars reporter in Texas in 2018. The complaint said InfoWars posted his photograph on its website the day of the shooting in Parkland, Florida, depicting him as the gunman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 people died. Nikolas Cruz pleaded guilty last October.

The suit said Fontaine had never been to Florida and suffered “harassment and peril even from individuals aware of his identity as a Massachusetts resident but who nevertheless remain convinced he was part of a horrifying conspiracy.” Fontaine sought unspecified damages.

One of Fontaine’s lawyers in the Texas case confirmed that his client had died in the Massachusetts fire.

“Marcel was an immensely brave young man who made the choice to stand up to Alex Jones while knowing the harassment he would face,” Mark Bankston said in an email Thursday.

The case is still pending and will continue on behalf of Fontaine’s estate, he said. Lawyers for InfoWars have countered in court documents that Fontaine has failed to show any evidence of malice or any injury because of his photo’s publication.

Fontaine’s courage in suing Jones inspired several parents of children killed in the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook, Connecticut, to take legal action against Jones, Bankston said. Twenty children and six adults died in that shooting.

“His decision to bring a lawsuit caught the attention of several Sandy Hook parents, who approached our law firm to bring similar suits against Jones. It is because of Marcel that Mr. Jones finally faces accountability for his mayhem,” Bankston said.

The Worcester blaze was reported at about 3:30 a.m. Saturday and crews were on the scene within three minutes, acting Fire Chief Martin Dyer said earlier this week. Two victims were found Saturday and two more victims were recovered Monday.

The search was slowed by concerns about the integrity of the heavily damaged structure, including a collapsed roof, and the discovery of several live snakes still inside on Sunday, which required the intervention of animal control officers.

Four residents also required hospitalization, including one who either fell or jumped from a third-floor window, Dyer said. About 20 people lived in the building.

The cause of the fire in the three-story, six-unit apartment remains under investigation with the aid of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the Sandy Hook school shooting happened in 2012, not 2014.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

FILE - Gabby Petito's mother Nichole Schmidt, wipes a tear from her face during a news conference o...

Associated Press

Mother of man who killed Gabby Petito said in letter she would help son ‘dispose of a body’

The mother of the man who killed Gabby Petito told her son in an undated letter that she would “dispose of a body” if needed because she loved him so much, according to copies of the note shared publicly for the first time this week by attorneys for Petito's parents.

3 days ago

A member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard, places flags in front of e...

Associated Press

5 things to know about Memorial Day including its controversies

Memorial Day is supposed to be about mourning the nation’s fallen service members, but it’s come to anchor the unofficial start of summer and a long weekend of discounts on anything from mattresses to lawn mowers.

3 days ago

FILE - This artist sketch depicts the trial of Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, left, as he test...

Associated Press

Officers describe chaos, fear on Jan. 6 as judge weighs prison time for Oath Keepers’ Rhodes

Police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and public servants who fled the mob's attack told a judge on Wednesday that they are still haunted by what they endured, as the judge prepares to hand down sentences in a landmark Capitol riot case.

4 days ago

Pride month merchandise is displayed at the front of a Target store in Hackensack, N.J., Wednesday,...

Associated Press

Target on the defensive after removing LGBTQ+-themed products

Target once distinguished itself as being boldly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.

5 days ago

(Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)...

Associated Press

Former Arizona television journalist announces bid for Schweikert’s US House seat

A former Phoenix television journalist announced her candidacy Wednesday for the congressional seat currently held by seven-term Republican Rep. David Schweikert.

5 days ago

Tortoise by Henry Davis earned an honorable mention in the "Adventures in Nature” student photo c...

Associated Press

When you adopt a desert tortoise, prepare for a surprisingly social and zippy pet

They’re not fluffy, they don’t play fetch and they certainly don’t roll over. But there is such a thing as a lap tortoise.

6 days ago

Sponsored Articles

...

re:vitalize

Why drug-free weight loss still matters

Wanting to lose weight is a common goal for many people as they progress throughout life, but choosing between a holistic approach or to take medicine can be a tough decision.

...

OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center

How to identify the symptoms of 3 common anxiety disorders

Living with an anxiety disorder can be debilitating and cause significant stress for those who suffer from the condition.

(Desert Institute for Spine Care in Arizona Photo)...

Desert Institute for Spine Care in Arizona

5 common causes for chronic neck pain

Neck pain can debilitate one’s daily routine, yet 80% of people experience it in their lives and 20%-50% deal with it annually.

Lawyer: Victim of Massachusetts fire had sued InfoWars