In 2019, Mitch and DGR associate Heather Paradis won a 12-0 defense verdict in an officer-involved shooting case called Olango v. City of El Cajon. The shooting originally caused several days of protests in the City of El Cajon, including accusations of racism because it involved the shooting of an unarmed black man. The shooting spawned several separate cases. Some plaintiffs (Olango’s father, Olango’s Estate and his wife and daughter) filed in federal court alleging civil rights violations. These cases were dismissed by way of summary judgment. Olango’s sister filed a state court action alleging negligent infliction of emotional distress. The trial ultimately went forward in state court, before the Honorable Kenneth Medel, to which some of the federal plaintiffs were added, on the basis of negligence, including pre-shooting negligent tactical decisions. (Olango v. El Cajon, Case No. 37-2017-0005331-CU-PO-CTL)
