Mom remembers son killed in Orlando fireworks warehouse fire: 'Our lives are just not the same'
ORLANDO, Fla. - Another lawsuit has been filed against Magic in the Sky after its fireworks storage facility caught fire in December 2022 – and quickly became engulfed in flames, killing four of its employees.
Four people were killed as a result of the fire: Elizabeth Tiralongo, Landon Bourland, Lindsey Phillips, and David Gonzalez. Lindsey Tallafuss was the sole survivor.
All our families have filed wrongful death lawsuits against Magic in the Sky, a pyrotechnics company that helped with some of the fireworks displays at some of Florida's major theme parks, and the company that managed the fireworks and fireworks storage.
David Gonzalez's mom and dad filed a wrongful death lawsuit in November 2024 against Magic in the Sky and other entities, seeking more than $50,000 and a jury trial.
According to the latest lawsuit, Gonzalez's family alleges negligence and strict liability. They also allege that the companies intentionally hired young and inexperienced people to work for their and handle fireworks.
CONTINUING COVERAGE: Magic in the Sky Orlando Warehouse Fire
For Gonzalez's mom, 2024 marks the second holiday without her son.
"It's been hard the entire time. It's not. Our lives are just not the same," she said.
She wants accountability for her son's death, while acknowledging that the investigative and legal process can be long and exhausting.
"It is very stressful and painful that it keeps going. I mean, it's we have no idea when this is going to stop," said Gonzalez. "We want to make sure that that if there is any justice that needs to be done, that it is done."
OSHA fined Magic in the Sky for 10 different violations, including not properly training employees, not having an emergency plan, not performing an initial process hazard analysis, storing fireworks in magazines that weren’t fire resistant. Magic in the Sky has filed an appeal against those violations.
An appeals hearing has been rescheduled twice.