The family of former NFL running back Doug Martin has taken legal action against the city of Oakland, the police department, and the ambulance service, alleging their negligence contributed to his death.
In the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Martin’s parents, Leslie and Douglas, claim that police involvement played a role in the death of their 36-year-old son. They assert that paramedics were slow to respond to urgent medical requests. According to them, Martin suffered from restraint asphyxiation, with his passing attributed to failures on the part of the Oakland Police Department and FALCK NORCAL to provide prompt medical assistance. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
On October 18, Leslie reportedly called for help as Martin was having a mental health crisis. After leaving their home, he sought refuge in a nearby neighbor’s house, where police later located him in the basement.
The suit alleges that police physically restrained Martin, placing him face down while officers held his back. When they later turned him onto his side, they believed he might be “sleeping or pretending to be asleep.” At that moment, they found him unresponsive, and the suit also claims that a police officer called for help despite Martin’s condition.
According to the family’s complaint, the ambulance paramedics took around 15 minutes to arrive and, once there, did not immediately administer medical treatment.
Attorney John Burris, representing the family, said they simply want answers about what transpired. He expressed that it was a situation in which a mother sought assistance during her son’s crisis, and it shouldn’t lead to a death. An independent pathologist reportedly suggested to Martin’s parents that restraint asphyxia might have caused his death.
The family is seeking damages for wrongful death, as well as costs related to hospitalization, treatment, coroner’s fees, funeral expenses, and the impact on their family dynamics.
Burris mentioned that Martin’s mother sent his brain to Boston University’s CTE Center to investigate if he had developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition diagnosed only posthumously. While it was indicated that findings related to CTE would not affect the cause of death, the family hoped to gain more insight into Martin’s brain health.
As for the Oakland police, they typically refrain from commenting on ongoing litigation. The City Attorney’s Office, which received inquiries from Fox News Digital, has not provided any commentary on the situation. Attempts to reach representatives from FALCK NORCAL also went unanswered.
Doug Martin, who grew up in Oakland, ended his NFL career with the Raiders in 2018 after six years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who selected him in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
During his time in the league, Martin faced a four-game suspension in 2016 due to a violation of the substance abuse policy after testing positive for Adderall. He had mentioned plans to seek treatment at that time.
Notably, Martin concluded his NFL journey with over 5,300 rushing yards and earned Pro Bowl selections on two occasions. He played college football at Boise State University.
