Judge dismisses former Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo’s lawsuit against team





CNN

A Florida judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former NFL kicker Josh Lambo against the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he seeks reimbursement and damages for emotional distress allegedly inflicted by the former head coach of the team, Urban Meyer, whom he accused of having created a “hostile working environment”. .”

The lawsuit, filed in May in the Duval County Fourth Judicial Circuit Court, was dismissed without prejudice by Judge GL Feltel Jr. on Nov. 8, according to court records.

Lambo was given 21 days to file an amended complaint. Lambo’s attorney, Betsy Brown, told CNN her client intends to do so.

The judge dismissed the case after the Jaguars filed a motion in July to dismiss the lawsuit, saying Lambo “is not a whistleblower or a victim of retaliation”, as he argued in the complaint.

The Jaguars said Lambo admitted in the complaint that the club “severed his employment due to his unsatisfactory performance on the football pitch”.

The team claimed that while Lambo’s lawsuit alleged wrongdoing on Meyer’s part, it did not “demonstrate that Meyer’s actions were committed in the course of his employment or sanctioned by the team.” .

Further, the team argued that the alleged conduct Lambo complained of was not a protected activity under the Florida Whistleblower Act.

CNN has contacted the Jaguars for comment.

In the lawsuit, Lambo said that during a practice in August 2021, Meyer “kicked him in the leg and used profanity to insult him and warn him to do his kicks. More specifically, (Meyer) allegedly yelled at (Lambo): ‘Hey Dips**t, do your fucking kicks!'”

Lambo responded to Meyer by telling the coach, “‘Don’t ever fuckin’ kick me again!” [Meyer] replied: “I’m the head ball coach, I’ll kick you whenever I want, f**k,” according to the lawsuit

Meyer denied Lambo’s allegations to the Tampa Bay Times in December.

“Josh’s characterization of me and this incident is completely inaccurate, and there are eyewitnesses to refute his account,” Meyer told the newspaper. “(General Manager) Trent (Baalke) and I met him on several occasions to encourage his performance, and it was never brought up. I fully supported Josh during his time with the team and I do not wish the best.

The lawsuit alleged that Lambo informed the Jaguars of the incident through his agent, Richard Irvin, but the team ‘did not initiate an investigation’ or ‘intervene in the close working conditions’ between the of them.

The Jaguars cut Lambo in October after the kicker missed all three field goal attempts in the first three weeks of the 2021 season. Lambo’s lawsuit said his missed field goals “caused no loss to the Jaguars”.

According to the lawsuit, Lambo claimed his release violated Florida’s Private Sector Whistleblower Act “regarding assault, battery and workplace violence in the interest of an employer.”

After being cut, according to the lawsuit, Lambo “suffered professional ramifications, including loss of wages, benefits and other compensation, as well as extreme emotional and mental distress due to the harassment, environmental of hostile labor and retaliation” from the Jaguars.

The Jaguars fired Meyer in December 2021 after 13 games (2-11) in his first NFL coaching season.

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