Al Sharpton told his critics to sue him first. Now Nolan Wells’ friends are doing the same, and he says he’s okay with it

Three young men submitted a 19-page demand letter, granting him a 10-day period to apologize and retract his statements. His response arrived approximately three hours later —

Al Sharpton expresses his desire to be served.

A law firm in Pascagoula, Mississippi, announced on Friday afternoon that it would be delivering a 19-page presuit defamation demand to Sharpton on behalf of three friends of Nolan Wells. Approximately three hours later, Sharpton shared a response indicating that he welcomes the lawsuit and will have his attorneys coordinate with the opposing party to ensure he is served, allowing the matter to proceed to court.

Sharpton has not faced any lawsuits. A demand letter serves as a preliminary step before litigation, providing the opposing party with an opportunity to settle matters without the need to file a case. The letter stipulates that Sharpton has 10 days from the date of service to issue a public apology, retract the statements in question, and delete them accordingly. If he fails to comply, the attorneys have indicated that they will pursue legal action. There are currently no proceedings in court.

The correspondence is authored by attorneys J. Tyler Cox and Edward Paltzik, representing Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour. It contends that Sharpton’s frequent public mentions of Wells’ three young white male friends could only refer to these individuals, suggesting that his comments implied their involvement in Wells’ death, that they either withheld or tampered with his phone, concealed his keys, or obstructed the investigation. The attorneys assert that the allegations constitute felonies under Mississippi law, including murder, hindering prosecution, and tampering with physical evidence. They maintain that their clients are entirely innocent of any wrongdoing related to Wells’ death.

The letter highlights two particular events: an appearance on TMZ on July 14 and an online vigil for Wells on August 19. In the TMZ interview, Sharpton expressed his disbelief regarding why Wells would have left his phone behind. He noted his astonishment that just a day after the trip, Wells’ mother was actively searching for him while no one had stepped forward to provide information.

The attorneys present their clients’ account of the trip. Wells journeyed to Horn Island with a boating party consisting of approximately 30 individuals. Hudson, Pitalo, and Seymour departed the island with a group, while Wells chose to remain. The three subsequently reached out to Wells’ family and authorities, becoming involved in the search for him. The letter states that they never had possession of or accessed Wells’ phone, indicating that a female friend gave it to the mother of another friend. It also mentions that Wells left his keys in Pitalo’s bedroom, which were subsequently handed over to Wells’ stepfather.

Sharpton is standing firm. In addition to extending an invitation for service, he expressed his openness to litigation, particularly as it would necessitate that all individuals associated with Wells respond to inquiries under oath. He stated that his involvement in the case stems from a singular purpose: to assist Wells’ parents, Christine and Elmore, in uncovering the truth through a transparent and accountable investigation. During the National Association of Black Journalists convention on August 13, he spoke alongside the parents and characterized the account of the events as unclear, noting that certain aspects seemed illogical in light of Mississippi’s history.

That posture remains steady. He has openly challenged those who disagree with his statements to initiate a lawsuit against him. Someone is currently heading in that direction.

Wells, an 18-year-old from Ocean Springs, was discovered deceased in the waters off Horn Island on July 6, just one day after being reported missing during a Fourth of July outing. A cause of death has yet to be officially disclosed. The district attorney’s office has stated that the state medical examiner’s report will be withheld until a grand jury has the opportunity to review the case. The family of Wells, along with their attorneys, requested a federal review during the NABJ convention.

There have been no charges filed in relation to Wells’ death.

Funds are already being allocated to support the legal battle. Weeks prior to the issuance of the demand letter, Benjamin Hudson, the father of one of the three men, initiated an online fundraiser aimed at assisting with legal expenses related to potential wrongful death claims and efforts to address alleged slander and libel.

The 10-day clock begins once Sharpton is served, and he has indicated that he is making arrangements for that to occur.