Doug Martin’s Parents File Wrongful Death Lawsuit In Shocking Turn Of Events

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Former NFL running back Doug Martin’s parents have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Oakland and a private ambulance provider, claiming excessive force by police led to their son’s death while he was in custody last year.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Martin died in October 2025 after becoming unresponsive during an encounter with Oakland police. His parents filed the lawsuit in federal court on Tuesday and say officers used more force than necessary while detaining him.

The lawsuit also names Falck Northern California, the paramedic company that responded to the scene. Martin’s parents claim first responders took too long to arrive and did not provide proper medical care after officers detained him.

Family Seeks Answers About Martin’s Death

Attorney John Burris, who represents Martin’s family, said an independent pathologist reviewed the case and reached a troubling conclusion. According to Burris, the pathologist found that Martin likely died from “restrained asphyxia.”

Burris said officers allegedly pushed Martin’s face into the floor and applied pressure to his back during the incident. The lawsuit argues that those actions contributed to his death.

“You’d like to think that when police are called to a situation for somebody who is having a mental breakdown, the person doesn’t wind up dead,” Burris told the Chronicle.

The case raises questions about the events that unfolded before Martin lost consciousness. Burris noted that authorities have not yet released the official autopsy report or toxicology findings from the Alameda County coroner’s office.

He said the family hopes the lawsuit will help uncover more details about what happened that day.

“The most important thing here is to find out what happened,” Burris said. “It’s not knowing that’s the difficult part for [Martin’s family].”

Before his death, Martin enjoyed a successful NFL career. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played six seasons in Tampa Bay before finishing his career with the Oakland Raiders.

Martin earned two Pro Bowl selections and was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2015.

Now, as the lawsuit moves forward, his family is looking for answers about what happened in the hours leading up to his death. The case will focus on both the actions of police officers and the medical response that followed.