The Washington, D.C. Attorney General on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the Washington Commanders, accusing the troubled NFL franchise of perpetuating a “toxic culture of sexual harassment.”
The team, owner Dan Snyder, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the league itself have been named as defendants for “colluding” to cover up the franchise’s poor treatment of female employees, according to the District of Columbia. Attorney General Karl Racine said.
The lawsuit used language commonly found in consumer protection claims, accusing the defendants of lying to Washington, D.C. residents to protect their businesses.
“In order to sell expensive tickets and merchandise and maintain the team as a profitable part of the league, the defendants need the team to inspire public trust and fan loyalty,” according to the civil lawsuit.
“However, defendants have repeatedly attempted to strengthen such trust and loyalty by harming consumers in the district through sophisticated deception.”
Snyder and commander representatives said they welcomed an investigation into the club’s practices.
“We agree with AG Racine on one point: the public needs to know the truth,” according to a statement from the team’s attorneys, John Brownlee and Stuart Nash.
“While the lawsuit reiterates many innuendos, half-truths and lies, we welcome this opportunity to defend the organization in court for the first time and establish once and for all what is fact and what is truth. Fiction. “
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy denied the lawsuit’s allegations and questioned Racine’s legal tactics, alleging consumer fraud.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, McCarthy said, “We reject the legally unsound, factual and baseless allegations made by the DC Attorney General against the NFL and Commissioner Goodell today, and we will vigorously defend against those allegations. I will defend myself,” he said.
The Washington Commanders play their home games at FedEx Field in Prince George County, Maryland.
The team played at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, DC, but its final season was in 1996.
However, the lawsuit claimed that residents of the District of Columbia were victims because the team aggressively marketed its products to residents of the capital.
Racine is the district chief legal officer and serves as the jurisdiction’s primary juvenile prosecutor.
“This case is not a criminal case because we do not have criminal jurisdiction over adults,” he told reporters.
“We are taking this to court as a civil lawsuit and it is a fair process for the defendants so the public can feel accountable. Again, who is above the law? neither.”
According to Racine, the National Football League should be held accountable if it knowingly allowed a commander’s misconduct to continue with impunity.
“I think the public needs to be made aware of the great product that I spend a lot of time looking at, the National Football League,” said Racine. “The National Football League needs to know that ethics matter, honesty matters, treating people fairly in the workplace, accountability, and actual accountability. I have.”
The NFL fined teams $10 million last year after Washington, D.C. attorney Beth Wilkinson revealed a “highly unprofessional” workplace at an NFL club.
The league claimed Wilkinson’s investigation was completely independent, and her investigators interviewed more than 150 current and former team employees.
But a new lawsuit alleges that Snyder was working behind the scenes to sabotage Wilkinson’s investigation, which has yet to be fully disclosed.
Snyder threatened to dispatch a private investigator to the home of a witness, “involved in an abusive lawsuit to prevent a witness from participating,” and “paid additional money to a former employee who had previously settled a claim against Snyder.” provided,” the civil complaint said.
“I am against the behavior in question,” Racine said. “The idea of intimidating victims, trying to scare them into recanting their allegations, is outrageous and calls on all of us to do what we can to hold ourselves accountable.”
The investigation ultimately held Snider and the team accountable, the lawsuit said.
“Overall, District consumers believe that the defendants will do all they can to preserve the integrity of the Wilkinson investigation, and that the findings will restore their confidence and alleviate concerns about the franchise’s continued support.” I believed that
“In reality, the picture Defendant drew for consumers in the District was grossly misleading, especially during the investigation, but consumers understood that a thorough and unbiased investigation was underway. and continued to buy tickets and merchandise.”
McCarthy defended Wilkinson’s findings and subsequent league sanctions against Snyder and the team.
“The independent investigation into Washington Commanders workplace misconduct has been conducted thoroughly and comprehensively by Beth Wilkinson and her law firm.
“Following the completion of the investigation, the NFL released a summary of Mr. Wilkinson’s findings and imposed a record fine against the club and its ownership.”
The team’s attorneys also claimed that Commander and Snyder were responsible for their previous misbehavior at work.
“Over two years ago, Dan and Tanya Snyder acknowledged that an unacceptable work culture had existed within their organization for several years, and apologized repeatedly for allowing it.
According to Racine, the lawsuit will continue even if Snyder ends up selling the franchise.
The team announced last week that it had hired Bank of America “to consider a potential transaction.”
The lawsuit did not disclose the amount sought by the defendants. However, Racine vowed to have the accused testify under oath.
“This case will require depositions, testimony and accountability of the most powerful persons and organizations in the United States,” he said.
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