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Judge Rules Flores Discrimination Case Can Proceed
14 Feb
Summary
- Brian Flores' discrimination lawsuit against the NFL will go to open court.
- A federal judge denied the NFL's attempt to use its arbitration process.
- The lawsuit alleges racism in the league's hiring practices for Black coaches.
A federal judge has ruled that Brian Flores' discrimination lawsuit against the National Football League can advance to an open court trial, denying the league's attempt to compel arbitration. Flores, along with co-plaintiffs Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, initiated legal action in February 2022, alleging widespread racism within the NFL's coaching employment practices.
Judge Valerie Caproni of the Southern District of New York sided with the plaintiffs, determining that an arbitration process controlled by the NFL itself would compromise fairness. Flores' attorneys stated this ruling acknowledges that league-controlled arbitration would strip employees of their legal rights, advocating for a neutral forum. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for April 3.
The lawsuit includes allegations against the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and Houston Texans, stemming from interviews Flores conducted in 2019 and 2022. Steve Wilks claimed he was hired as a 'bridge coach' by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 without a real chance to succeed. Ray Horton alleged the Tennessee Titans did not provide him with a genuine interview in 2016.
