# Mitchell v. Gonzales

Canonical: https://californiapersonalinjurylaws.com/cases/mitchell/

Supreme Court of California, 1991. 54 Cal.3d 1041, pp. 1049–1053.

Reviewed by Andrew (Andy) R. Gillin; publisher reported approval 2026-11-04. The original review date was not supplied.

## Case background

Read the opinion for the full facts and procedural history.

## What the court decided

The court favored a substantial-factor instruction for cause in fact over a confusing older instruction.

## Limits

Proof of a careless act alone is not enough. The claimed harm must still be linked to that act.

## Opinion

https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/54/1041.html