The parents of former NFL running back Doug Martin have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Oakland, its police department, and an ambulance company. The suit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that police actions and delayed medical care contributed to Martin's death.
Martin's parents claim their 36-year-old son died from restraint asphyxia, which they attribute to Oakland police officers and Falck Northern California paramedics failing to provide timely medical assistance. He was pronounced dead at a hospital after the incident on Oct. 18.
According to the lawsuit, Martin's mother called paramedics because her son was experiencing a mental health crisis. Police located Martin in the basement of a neighbor's house, where he had fled and was hiding. The suit states that officers physically restrained Martin, placing him face down with one or more officers pressing on his back. When officers turned Martin on his side, he was unresponsive.
The lawsuit further alleges that officers believed Martin was feigning unconsciousness, despite at least one officer requesting medical assistance while Martin was still unresponsive. The family contends that paramedics did not arrive promptly after the call for service, with the suit stating their arrival was approximately 15 minutes after the call and that they "did not promptly provide medical care."
John Burris, an attorney for the Martin family, told The Athletic that the family seeks to understand what happened. "When you call for help and the police come, it’s not a death warrant. You don’t expect the person to die," Burris stated. An independent pathologist reportedly informed Martin's parents that restraint asphyxia may have been the cause of death.
The family is seeking damages for wrongful death, hospital and medical expenses, coroner's fees, funeral and burial costs, and loss of familial relationship. Martin's mother has also sent her son's brain to the Boston University CTE Center to investigate whether he had developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy, though the pathologist indicated this finding would not alter the cause of death.
The Oakland Police Department has a policy of not commenting on pending litigation. The Oakland city attorney's office also declined to comment, and representatives for Falck Northern California could not immediately be reached. Martin, an Oakland native, played his final NFL season with the Raiders in 2018, having previously spent six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and finished his career with over 5,300 rushing yards.