Decide dismisses former Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo's lawsuit in opposition to staff

Muricas News  — 

A Florida choose has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former NFL kicker Josh Lambo in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars during which he sought again pay and damages for emotional misery allegedly inflicted by the staff’s former head coach City Meyer, whom he accused of making a “hostile work atmosphere.”

The lawsuit, filed in Might within the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court docket in Duval County, Florida, was dismissed with out prejudice by Decide G.L. Feltel Jr. on November 8, in keeping with courtroom information.

Lambo was given 21 days to file an amended grievance. Lambo’s lawyer, Betsy Brown, advised Muricas News her shopper intends to take action.

The choose tossed the case after the Jaguars filed a movement in July to dismiss the lawsuit, contending Lambo “is just not a whistleblower or a sufferer of retaliation,” as he argued within the grievance.

The Jaguars mentioned Lambo admitted within the grievance that the membership “separated his employment on account of his unsatisfactory efficiency on the soccer area.”

The staff additionally claimed that whereas Lambo’s swimsuit alleged wrongdoing on Meyer’s half, it failed “to point out Meyer’s actions have been dedicated throughout the scope of his employment or ratified by the staff.”

Additional, the staff argued the alleged conduct Lambo complained about was not protected exercise beneath the Florida Whistleblower Act.

Muricas News has reached out to the Jaguars for remark.

Within the lawsuit, Lambo mentioned that in a follow in August 2021, Meyer “kicked him within the leg, and used profanity to insult (him) and warn him to make his kicks. Particularly, (Meyer) allegedly screamed at (Lambo), ‘Hey Dips**t, make your f**king kicks!’”

Lambo responded to Meyer, telling the coach, “‘Don’t you ever f**king kick me once more!’ [Meyer] responded, “I’m the top ball coach, I’ll kick you at any time when the f**okay I would like,’” in keeping with the lawsuit

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

“Josh’s characterization of me and this incident is totally inaccurate, and there are eyewitnesses to refute his account,” Meyer advised the paper. “(Common supervisor) Trent (Baalke) and I met with him on a number of events to encourage his efficiency, and this was by no means introduced up. I used to be totally supportive of Josh throughout his time with the staff and want him nothing however the very best.”

The lawsuit alleged Lambo knowledgeable the Jaguars in regards to the incident via his agent, Richard Irvin, however the staff “didn't provoke an investigation” nor “intervene within the shut working circumstances” between the 2.

The Jaguars lower Lambo in October after the kicker missed all three of his field-goal makes an attempt within the first three weeks of the 2021 season. Lambo’s lawsuit mentioned his missed area targets “didn't trigger any losses for the Jaguars.”

In line with the lawsuit, Lambo claimed his launch violated the Florida Personal Sector Whistle-blower’s Act “regarding assault, battery, and office violence in furtherance of an employer’s curiosity.”

After he was lower, the lawsuit alleged, Lambo “suffered skilled ramifications together with misplaced wages, advantages and different remuneration, in addition to excessive emotional and psychological misery due to the harassment, hostile work atmosphere, and retaliation” by the Jaguars.

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