ORLANDO, Fla. (WCJB) - A lawsuit filed on behalf of the family of former WCJB TV20 News reporter Dylan Lyons accuses an Orlando news station of negligence following his murder.
In a news release, officials with Nejame Law are filing the suit against Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum News 13, where Dylan was working as a reporter when he was shot and killed in February 2023.
The suit claims the company neglected safety and put journalists in harm’s way.
“Daily, journalists on directed assignments, and without a say or options, are directed to go into potential harm’s way and to report the news without appropriate security measures, choices, or proper consideration of their well-being. Although they do so with a commitment to reporting the truth for their respective communities, they do not sign up for a death sentence. They deserve, and are entitled to, basic safety protections, full knowledge about the risks associated with their assignment, and a choice in the matter.”
NeJame Law statement
On Feb. 22, 2023, Keith Moses shot and killed Nathacha Augustin, 38, in Pine Hills.
Hours later, Moses returned to the area after deputies had left the scene. He entered a nearby home, shot and killed T’Yonna Majors, 9, and wounded her mother.
He then approached a Spectrum News vehicle and shot Lyons and his photographer, who is not a party in the lawsuit.
Lawyers hope this lawsuit opens doors for more discussions when it comes to a reporters safety which means giving them the choice on whether or not to go out to a potentially dangerous scene. The lawsuit alleges that through indifference, recklessness, or gross negligence, Charter Communications’ actions contributed to Lyons’ death.
“You never signed with you contracts for a death sentence, and you should have all the information available to you before you’re assigned and sent out on a story that could be dangerous,” shared Mark NeJame, the attorney for the Lyons family.
NeJame says all reporters should be provided with basic security measures such as situational awareness training. He says he feels like the culture in the newsroom failed Lyons“Rather than letting the public know, a very identifiable individual, rather than putting out a notice of who he was, where he was, they stayed silent,” said NeJame.
Charter Communications provided the following statement regarding the lawsuit:
“Dylan’s murder was an unforeseeable and horrible tragedy. We hope that Keith Moses, who has been charged, will soon be brought to justice for the murder of Dylan and the others that day. With regards to these specific allegations, Dylan was the victim of a senseless act of violence. The claims against Spectrum News are unfounded and we will seek to have them dismissed.”
Charter Communications statement
“We’ve been called the voice for the voiceless and individually you all don’t have a voice, and unfortunately it takes tragedy such as this to bring issues to the forefront,” NeJame shared.
Next week, lawyers plan to give out more details on a lawsuit against the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. They claim deputies knew the suspect, Keith Moses was still on the run, did not make anyone aware, and still cleared the scene.
