NFL Attempts To Move Brian Flores’ Lawsuit To Arbitration

Brian Flores’ class-action lawsuit against the NFL and several of its member teams may be concluding soon. Flores has accused the league and several teams of racial discrimination in their hiring practices. The NFL has filed a motion to move the case out of the courtroom and into arbitration.

The league made the motion in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on Tuesday. The legal paperwork included redacted contracts for every coach named in the suit as well as a copy of the NFL’s constitution and bylaws, according to ESPN.

In the filing, the NFL argued that all three coaches agreed in their contracts to arbitrate any claims against the teams that employ them. The league noted that the NFL’s Constitution covers this part of their agreements, and that should be the route they’re taking. It was also pointed out that Supreme Court precedent requires each coach to arbitrate his claims on an individual basis.

Brian Flores has also alleged the Miami Dolphins of offering him huge money to tank. Flores claims owner Stephen Ross offered him $100,000 per loss during the 2019 season to try and secure a better draft pick. The NFL expressed concern over the allegations against Ross but noted that federal courts were not the place for it.

Flores’ legal team is hoping to keep the case in the legal system. They are aiming for a jury trial. That would eventually lead to further discovery and each side being able to review relevant documentation and evidence.

The judge has not yet ruled on whether to take the case to arbitration. The NFL has spelled out a compelling argument in favor of doing so. Brian Flores and his team would much rather tell their story to a sympathetic jury.

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