In a bold move, the NFL’s sole Black head team doctor is taking legal action against his former employers, Emory University and the Atlanta Falcons, citing racial discrimination and retaliation.
In the lawsuit, Dr. Brandon Mines has included Dr. Kenneth Mautner and Dr. Scott Bolden as his former supervisors.
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In a complaint filed on June 1, Mines asserted that his rights were violated after being terminated by the Falcons. He alleged that both the team and Emory engaged in retaliatory actions against him, such as withholding his wages and spreading false accusations. These accusations included claims that he did not properly maintain player medical records and even missed a brain tumor in one of the Atlanta Falcons players.
In the lawsuit, it was stated that Mines’ termination not only halted his promising career but also weakened the trust within the sports medicine community at Emory. The repercussions of this unjust termination extended far beyond, raising questions about the Falcons’ and Emory’s stance on diversity and inclusivity. It also created a culture of anxiety and uncertainty among Black physicians.
In the lawsuit, it was revealed that Mines had pursued new promotions over time. However, he claimed that he was overlooked for these roles, which were instead given to white colleagues who were not as qualified as he was. Mines had also shown interest in positions with the Atlanta Braves of the MLB and the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA, both of which had connections with Emory. The complaint alleged that Mines’ superiors, Boden and Mautner, who are both white, appeared to favor white doctors over him.
According to the lawsuit, Boden consistently appointed white physicians for the leadership position, disregarding recommendations from other Emory leaders regarding the Plaintiff’s candidacy for the Head Team Physician role for the Atlanta Falcons in 2019 and the Atlanta Hawks in 2016. The lawsuit also alleges that Boden deliberately and maliciously rejected these recommendations.
During his time at Emory, Mines had suggested several new ideas and expressed his willingness to spearhead them. Boden and Mautner acknowledged that the ideas were promising, but unfortunately, nothing materialized. One of Mines’ proposals was to become the Co-Director of Sports Medicine, but he never received a clear response from his superiors.
The Falcons terminated Mines from his position in May 2023 without providing any concrete explanation or valid reason, which came as an unexpected and sudden move. This abrupt termination not only tarnished Mines’ previously impeccable reputation but also had a negative impact on diversity and inclusion efforts within Emory and the NFL.
Mines claims that the discrimination didn’t end there.
According to the lawsuit, Mines faced numerous microaggressions while working at Emory University. Despite filing a formal complaint with the school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion office, he claimed that nothing was done to address the situation. His supervisors allegedly labeled him as “angry” and “aggressive,” which he believed were racial stereotypes often used to stigmatize Black individuals. Mines also noted that discriminatory behavior from his time with the Atlanta Falcons seemed to carry over to his work at Emory, but his concerns were seemingly ignored and no investigations were conducted.
According to the lawsuit, Mines’ resignation was a result of severe and pervasive racial discrimination and retaliation, which made his working environment intolerable. As per the statement, the resignation was a constructive discharge, as any reasonable person would have felt compelled to resign under such circumstances.
According to the lawsuit filed by Mines, his former employers are being accused of engaging in “willful, wanton, and malicious” behavior. The lawsuit alleges that they are accountable for creating a “malicious and outrageous” environment of racial discrimination, resulting in a hostile workplace.
Mines is seeking a trial by jury, compensation for punitive damages, and reimbursement for attorneys’ fees in exchange for the physical and mental harm, lost wages, professional and reputational damage, severe emotional distress, humiliation, and anxiety he endured.
