SouthernWorldwide.com – The family of former NFL running back Doug Martin has filed a lawsuit against the city of Oakland, its police department, and an ambulance company. They allege that the actions of these entities contributed to the circumstances surrounding Martin’s death.
According to the lawsuit, the parents of the late NFL star claim that the police played a role in the 36-year-old’s passing. They also allege that paramedics were not prompt enough in responding to calls for medical assistance. Leslie and Douglas, Martin’s parents, officially filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
The plaintiffs state their belief that Martin died from restraint asphyxia. They assert this was “caused by Oakland police officers and the FALCK NORCAL paramedics’ failure to provide timely medical care.” Martin was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The lawsuit details that Leslie contacted paramedics on October 18th because her son was experiencing a mental health crisis. Martin subsequently left the home and sought refuge in a neighbor’s house. The Oakland Police Department located him in the basement. The lawsuit further states that law enforcement officers physically restrained Martin, placing him “face down while one or more officers pressed on his back.” When officers turned Martin onto his side, he was unresponsive. The suit alleges that the officers at this point believed Martin was “sleeping or pretending to be asleep.”
The lawsuit also claims that law enforcement restrained Martin, positioning him “face down while one or more officers pressed on his back.” He was later found unresponsive after being turned onto his side. The suit continues by stating that officers believed Martin was “sleeping or pretending to be asleep.” It also alleges that at least one officer requested medical assistance while Martin remained unresponsive.
The Martin family contends that the response was not sufficiently immediate. They claim that Falck Northern California paramedics arrived approximately 15 minutes after the initial call for service, according to the suit. “When they arrived,” the suit reads, they “did not promptly provide medical care.”
“They just want to know what happened,” John Burris, a lawyer representing the family, told The Athletic. “Here’s a situation where the mother was calling for help. He was emotionally out of it, and she was calling for help.”
“When you call for help and the police come, it’s not a death warrant. You don’t expect the person to die,” Burris added. He also mentioned that an independent pathologist, whose name was not disclosed, informed Martin’s parents that restraint asphyxia might have been the cause of their son’s death.
The parents of Doug Martin are seeking compensation for various damages. These include claims for wrongful death, hospital and medical expenses, coroner’s fees, funeral and burial costs, and loss of support and familial relationship, among other categories.
Burris noted that Martin’s mother sent her son’s brain to Boston, to the Boston University CTE Center, in an effort to determine if he had developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This disease can only be diagnosed posthumously. While the pathologist advised Burris that a CTE diagnosis “really has no consequence as it relates to the cause of death,” Burris stated that the family is seeking a more comprehensive understanding of Martin’s brain health.
Martin, who was originally from Oakland, concluded his NFL career with the then-Oakland Raiders in 2018. Prior to that, he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for six seasons. The Buccaneers selected him in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
In 2016, he received a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Following a positive test for Adderall, Martin announced his intention to enter a treatment program.
Martin finished his NFL career with over 5,300 rushing yards and was selected to two Pro Bowl teams. He played college football at Boise State.
