After a brief delay and stipulation to extend time to file his reply to a motion to dismiss Jose “Chille” DeCastro’s lawsuit against the LVMPD, attorney Michael Mee’s response to the motion was released to the public late Friday night.
Mee, who represents DeCastro in the criminal case of obstructing and interfering that spawned the civil suit, largely stuck to the concepts and ideas laid out in previous motions by his client. He touched on issues that had been previously thrown out with prejudice (probable cause, etc.), while attempting to bring some organization to DeCastro’s previously chaotic statements.
The reply contends that DeCastro was acting as a member of the press when he approached the traffic stop in March of 2023 and the officers on scene immediately conspired against his right to film the stop. Officer Borque then angerly and maliciously attacked DeCastro with little to no resistance.
Once other officers arrived on the scene, Officer Sandoval struck DeCastro in the groin when searching him then intentionally squeezed DeCastro’s ulnar nerve for 15 minutes as part of a pain compliance technique. Newly highlighted in the response comes the contention that the officers acted with malice in placing DeCastro in the squad car and pulled his seat belt tightly against his body in order to inflict damage.
Mee stated that his client would not stipulate to the authenticity of the bodycam videos submitted to the court by the police as only Officer Torrey signed and dated his declaration. He also claimed that the accusation by the police that no strike to the groin area is seen on the video is not true as some touching occurred, but video cannot show how hard the area was touched.
The newly hired attorney also objected to the granting of the motion to dismiss as he just came on to the case and has not had sufficient time to establish himself on the case. While he confirmed the fact that DeCastro had previously received some discovery, for example, he still needed to examine that discovery and determine if more discovery was needed to properly take over the case from his client.
Originally due on January 26, 2024, both sides met and stipulated to an extension for Mee to file his reply by February 2, 2024. Judge Andrew P. Gordon granted the extension on February 2, resulting in the late-night filing by Mee.
Case Links
The Public Documents of Jose Maria “Chille” DeCastro
https://thepublicdocuments.com/
DeCastro vs. Peter, etc. – California State Superior Court
https://www.lacourt.org/casesummary/ui/index.aspx?casetype=civil (Use case: 23SMCV00538)
DeCastro vs. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67210646/decastro-v-las-vegas-metropolitan-police-department/
DeCastro vs. Mcknight (Federal Court filed in Nevada vs. Ohio)
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68308740/decastro-v-mcknight/
DeCastro vs. Wagner (Ironton) – APPEAL
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67862227/jose-decastro-v-pam-wagner/
Feb 14, 2024 Arrest (Las Vegas)
https://municourt.lasvegasnevada.gov (Defendants, DeCastro, Jose, 9/11/74)
Maryland Criminal Complaint by Collin Campbell
https://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/inquiry-search.jsp (Use case: D-09-CR-24-000572)
DeCastro vs. State of Nevada (Appeal of March 2024 conviction)
https://www.clarkcountycourts.us (Use case: C-24-381730-A)
DeCastro vs. Evan McKnight, Defendants (Lawsuit against Ironton filed in Nevada state court)
https://www.clarkcountycourts.us (Use case: A-24-888450-C)
Rodgers v. Winfrey (Deboraugh Rodgers Federal Case)
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66901243/rodgers-v-winfrey/
Dollarhide v. Dickens (Jason Dollarhide Federal Case)
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/64862375/dollarhide-v-dickens/
DeCastro vs. Abrams & Peter (Dismissed)
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/64946355/decastro-v-abrams/
DeCastro vs. Wagner (Ironton) (Dismissed)
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63235878/decastro-v-wagner/
DeCastro vs. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department – APPEAL (Dismissed)
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67693595/jose-decastro-v-lvmpd/
Wallace v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (Dismissed)
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67423252/wallace-v-las-vegas-metropolitan-police-department/
Maryland Peace Order by Collin Campbell (Closed)
https://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/inquiry-search.jsp (Use case: D-09-CV-24-809545)
Tip Jar
ReallyCoolNews is a free daily publication devoted to the First Amendment Auditing community. If you’d like to support the publication/help keep the author fed/help support his animals, we offer the following ways to contribute:
Direct Money Gifting:
CashApp: https://cash.me/$reallycoolsite
Paypal: https://paypal.me/ReallyCoolSite?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8144e31
Amazon Registry Gifting:
Paper Needs Registry: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2XZ4NUUYNXZH5
Critter Registry: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1GACKBD5N136L
Buy Something Neat Registry: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2BKN32QZLN1OD
Donations go towards keeping the lights on, feeding critters, improving the site and paying site hosting costs and future upgrades.
Share this:
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
Even Chilli’s lawyer is shit at the law thing.