Doug Martin's Family Sues Oakland, Ambulance Firm Over 36-Year-Old's Death

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 25

Tuesday's federal lawsuit says former NFL running back Doug Martin died after Oakland officers restrained him face down during an Oct. 18 mental-health crisis and Falck Northern California paramedics failed to provide timely care.
The complaint alleges officers pressed on Martin's back, later found him unresponsive and mistook him for sleeping or pretending, while paramedics arrived about 15 minutes after a call for medical assistance and then did not act promptly.
John Burris, the family's lawyer, said an independent pathologist told Martin's parents restraint asphyxia may have caused the 36-year-old's death; Martin was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The parents seek wrongful-death and other damages, while also sending Martin's brain to Boston University's CTE Center to learn whether he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, though Burris said that would not determine the cause of death.
Oakland police and the city declined comment because of pending litigation, and representatives for Falck could not immediately be reached.