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Update: Parties have settled their claims in the case. CVN will update this article as events warrant.
Jacksonville, FL— Jury selection begins Monday involving claims brought by dozens of plaintiffs against Electronic Arts and others over a 2018 mass shooting at a Jacksonville videogame tournament, with CVN streaming proceedings from voir dire forward. Mitich, et al. v. Electronic Arts, Inc., et al., 2018-CA-005930.
David Katz fatally shot two people and injured others during a “Madden 19” e-sports tournament at the Jacksonville Landing marketplace. Katz, who had been a participant at the tourney, died by suicide during the incident.
According to court documents, plaintiffs claim defendants, including Electronic Arts, publisher of the "Madden" football videogame franchise, failed to provide adequate security for the tourney, despite the Jacksonville Landing’s history of violence and crime. The marketplace, opened in 1987, served for decades as a commercial and entertainment hub. It ultimately closed in July 2019 and was demolished months later.
In addition to Electronic Arts, defendants include Chicago Pizza and Sports Grill II, Inc., affiliated with the “GLHF” game site hosting the tourney, and the various owners of The Jacksonville Landing.
They deny any responsibility for the shooting.
According to court documents, firms representing the plaintiffs include Morgan & Morgan and Spohrer & Dodd. Attorneys from Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith represent Electronic Arts. Jacksonville Landing Investments is represented by attorneys from Cole, Scott & Kissane, while Chicago Pizza Sports Grill, II is represented by a team from Shendell & Pollock.
Jury selection is set to run through next week, with openings slated to begin Monday, October 11. Trial, over liability alone, is slated to run through the end of the month.
Judge Bruce Anderson, of Florida’s Fourth Circuit Court, will preside over the case.
CVN will provide gavel-to-gavel video of proceedings, live and on demand.
Email Arlin Crisco at acrisco@cvn.com.
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