Martin could sue team, experts opine
MI A MI • Jonathan Martin could sue the Miami Dolphins for big money under a variety of workplace laws that make employers liable for bullying, harassment and discrimination — even if the team’s hierarchy didn’t know about it, according to several legal experts.
Less likely would be criminal charges against offensive lineman Richie Incognito, who was suspended by the Dolphins after fellow lineman Martin left the team 2½ weeks ago. Martin’s attorney, David Cornwell, says Martin was repeatedly harassed by Incognito and others in ways that “went far beyond the traditional locker-room hazing.”
For Martin to win a lawsuit, Nova Southeastern University law professor Bob Jarvis said he’d have to show precisely that. “It will be crucial for Martin to convince a jury that even with a rough workplace, there is a line that cannot be crossed and it was crossed here,” Jarvis said.
One path for Martin to take would be filing a grievance with the NFL players union or a complaint with the NFL it- self. Aside from that, legal experts say there are several avenues he could take to sue the Dolphins. Cornwell did not respond to an email asking for additional comment on any of these options.
The NFL’s special investigator, Ted Wells, plans to meet Friday with Martin, who is with his family in Los Angeles and is receiving counselling. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross also plans to meet at a later date with Martin.
Interestingly, Martin’s mother, Jane Howard-Martin, spent almost 20 years practising employment law and wrote numerous articles in legal journals on such issues as workplace discrimination and harassment. It’s not known whether she has any role in her son’s decisions; Howard-Martin is now assistant general counsel for Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. in Los Angeles.
Two labour-employment lawyers at Venable LLP in New York, Michael Volpe and Nicholas Reiter, said in a written analysis of the Martin matter that employers can face lawsuits related to bullying if the harassment involved a victim’s race, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Claims can be made for harassment, infliction of emotional distress and negligent supervision.
One voice mail that has surfaced from Incognito to Martin, who is black, included a racial slur and other Dolphins players have said use of the slur in the locker room was not out of the ordinary.