Page 26 - bon-dia-aruba-20210713
P. 26
A26 OBITUARIO/U.S. NewS
Diamars 13 Juli 2021
N.J. educator in trans rant beer-toss
case sues for defamation
We sadly announce the sudden death of
Mr. Jozef Raymond Caton (AP) — A New Jersey middle school vice and the right to voice them in public, even
principal who was filmed tossing a cup if some may find them disagreeable. No one
Born 15-3-1956
of beer at people who had been record- should have their livelihood threatened for
Depart 7-7-2021 ing his wife’s rant against an apparent expressing an opinion. When this story went
transgender woman’s use of a public re- viral, Michael and Lisa Smurro were viciously
He left to mourn: stroom is suing them for defamation, as- attacked and defamed on social media. There
His daughter Tahaira Caton serting he never said a word about trans- was much outrage and little search for the
gender issues. truth. We hope to set the story straight.”
His partner Monica Francis and family
Michael Smurro, a vice principal at Neptune David Shanies, the lawyer for those su-
Bro. Dowling Caton and family in the Middle School who has been on leave with- ing Smurro, replied, “Some people, when
U.S.A
out pay since shortly after the April incident they find themselves in a hole, climb out of
Bro. Isaac Stanislaus and family in at an outdoor restaurant in Galloway Town- it. Other people continue to dig deeper and
Canada ship, has filed a civil suit against four people deeper. Anybody who watches the videos and
who are suing him and his wife over the in- hears (Lisa Smurro) scream ‘She’s a man!
Sis. Gloria Caton and family in U.S.A. cident. She’s a man!’ can make their own judgment
Bro. Anthony (Tony) Caton and family in about whether she’s talking about seeing
Holland In his countersuit, Smurro accuses Carolyn someone she thought was a man as opposed
DiPietro, Christopher Benino, and Robert to a transgender woman.”
Bro. Fitzroy Caton and Family in Aruba and Debra Harris of defamation, and false
light invasion of privacy, claiming in the latter The Smurros and people who say they were
Sis. Ann Caton and family in Holland
charge that the defendants made public state- hit with beer from his cup when he threw it in
His aunt Ann Stanislaus Stiell in the U.K. ments accusing him of something he did not their direction have filed criminal complaints
do. in municipal court alleging harassment. That
His aunt Majony Dixon and family in case is pending.
U.K. “Defendant Michael Smurro himself never
uttered a word to the plaintiffs or anyone that The footage from the outdoor restaurant
All cousins nieces, nephews in the
U.K,Holland,U.S.A., Canada disparaged transgendered individuals, or in shows Lisa Smurro complaining at length
fact any individuals,” his attorney Alexander about a person she apparently believed was a
Trinidad,Carriacou,Grenada and Aruba to Schachtel wrote in court papers filed earlier transgender woman using the women’s bath-
numerous to mention. this month. “Plaintiffs repeatedly alleged, room. New Jersey law prohibits discrimina-
stated, or implied that (Michael Smurro) had tion based on gender identify and permits
He was related to family Caton, Stiell, made a transphobic speech or rant, or had people to use public restrooms that corre-
Francis Stanislaus, Lendor, Alexander, leveled bigoted comments towards them- spond to their gender identity.
Bouwling and Lindor. selves, when (he) had never actually stated or
His good friends Denise and Patsy uttered any such thing.” The footage shows that when the couple be-
Alexander & family, Nicole and Hub came aware someone was filming, they got
Ammerstern & family, Carlos and The attorney also wrote in court papers that up and walked over. Lisa Smurro continued
Barbara Hodge & family, Barney and the identity of the person who used the rest- to complain and a woman at the table replied:
family. room has never been determined “and it also “Please take your hate elsewhere.”
remains unknown if that person was in fact
All members of the Experience Lodge and transgendered or was instead a man who had Michael Smurro then tossed the contents of a
The Batsheba Chapter. decided, for whatever reason, to use the la- cup of beer at occupants of the table.
dies’ room.” “Here you go, pal,” he says on the video.
All his ex-colleagues from Valero,
neighbours and friends are invited to Schachtel told The Associated Press on “There you go.”
attend the funeral which would take Monday that the civil suit against Smurro is
place on Thursday July the 15 at the groundless because the people who filed it Smurro’s countersuit claims his career and
th
Imaculada Concepcion Catholic Church did not suffer any harm. reputation have been damaged, “perhaps ir-
at St.Cruz at 8.30 a.m. His body would be reparably,” noting that Neptune school ad-
laid to rest at the Catholic Cemetery at “Michael is being sued because his wife made ministrators received 80 voicemail messages
St. Cruz. comments that offended the sensibilities of demanding disciplinary action against Smur-
the plaintiffs,” Schachtel said. “Michael and ro in just three days after the case was publi-
Lisa Smurro have the right to their opinions cized.
