Madden 19 Jacksonville Shooting Victim Sues EA, Others For Negligence
By Jason Fanelli ·
The first legal action to result from the Madden 19 Jacksonville shooter has been filed, with one survivor suing nearly everyone involved to negligent security.
The first of what could be many lawsuits stemming from the Madden NFL 19 tournament shooting in Jacksonville has been filed, with one survivor suing multiple entities for negligence.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Jacob Mitich, a competitor at the Madden tournament struck twice in the attack, has filed suit in the Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit in Duval County, Florida. He is suing Madden developer Electronic Arts, the GLHF Game Bar that hosted the event, the Chicago Pizza and Grill affiliated with the bar, and more for negligence, alleging that the entities did not do enough to prevent this tragedy from occuring.
Per the suit documents, "as a direct and proximate result of the negligence of Defendant EA, the Plaintiff, Jacob Mitich, suffered bodily injury in and about his body and extremities, resulting in pain and suffering…loss of earnings, loss of the ability to earn money and/or a diminished earning capacity."
Mitich filed the suit with the Morgan and Morgan law firm, whose attorney James Young made a statement on Miitch's behalf.
“Like many of his friends, Jacob Mitich traveled to Jacksonville last weekend to do what he loved. He trusted the event host and organizers, and believed that he was walking into a safe space," Young said. "That trust was shattered when shots rang out in an overcrowded, since-shut-down, non-permitted space. Combined with an alleged abject failure to provide adequate security, the result was tragic. We are bringing this lawsuit to hold those responsible accountable, and to ensure that gamers like Jake are able to get together to pursue their passion without having to fear for their lives.”
The full lawsuit can be read at this link.
Security at gaming events has long been an issue, and it seems EA and others will need to answer in civil court for what happened in Jacksonville. The only positive thing to take away from all this is that security measures at gaming-related events seem to be a true focus now, starting with EA's response earlier this week. It's long overdue but definitely a welcome change, and hopefully this new emphasis can thwart anything like Jacksonville from happening again. .
Cover photo taken for the Associated Press.