Judge Gives Extension to Brian Flores in Obtaining Vital Information From the NFL in Discrimination Case Against the League
Judge Gives Extension to Brian Flores in Obtaining Vital Information From the NFL in Discrimination Case Against the League
The discrimination case that former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is a bit closer to going to trial after a judge ruled in favor of the coach in a recent ruling.
According to NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk, a judge has given the coach and his team an extension of a deadline that was previously given to Flores to obtain pertinent information from the National Football League (NFL) as it relates to the arbitration process.
Judge Valerie Caproni issued an order earlier this week that “temporarily paused the deadline for Flores to respond to the NFL’s motion to compel arbitration until his motion for discovery from the NFL and Goodell over the fairness of the league arbitration process is decided by the court” according to a report by a legal analyst, Daniel Wallach.
NEW: Federal judge in Brian Flores lawsuit has temporarily paused the deadline for Flores to respond to the NFL’s motion to compel arbitration until his motion for discovery from the NFL and Goodell over the fairness of the league arbitration process is decided by the court. pic.twitter.com/EVICzliuHL
— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) July 18, 2022
What’s at issue is the NFL is demanding the Flores lawsuit, which now includes two more Black coaches former Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, now a defensive assistant coach with the Carolina Panthers, and Ray Horton, a former defensive coordinator, be settled in arbitration and not in the courts.
There was initially a July 22 deadline for Flores, Horton, and Wilks to answer the NFL’s formal request to force the case to arbitration stipulated by the NFL under its own rules and protocol. The league has thus far, refused to give the necessary information that Flores and his team have asked for in order to help determine if arbitration is appropriate.
The problem that Flores and his attorneys are having with going to arbitration is that it is stacked against Flores, Wilks and Horton. The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, who was chosen and is being paid by the team owners would be the person deciding the pending case.
According to the Associated Press, Flores wants NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to make sure his class-action lawsuit against the league takes place in an open court, not behind closed doors if taken to arbitration.
“I think Commissioner Goodell has the influence to do what’s right,” Flores said while speaking to lawmakers earlier this year to speak in favor of the FAIR Act, which would end forced arbitration. “I don’t think you can create that change in a secret setting, a confidential setting….I think he has influence to make sure that [a jury trial] happens.”
Congress is considering passing The FAIR Act, which would prevent employers from implementing forced arbitration clauses in employee paperwork and consumer agreements when signed. Flores believes taking that away would better protect employees.
Judge Gives Extension to Brian Flores in Obtaining Vital Information From the NFL in Discrimination Case Against the League
