MA District Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against Washington Redskins

NEWTON, MA — A civil rights case against the Washington Redskins, brought by a man who has ties to Newton and Greater Boston, was dismissed by a U.S. District Court of Massachusetts judge. The judge dismissed the case without prejudice in part because it is one of at least five other nearly identical lawsuits the man filed.

"The lawsuits are virtually identical, and therefore, this later filed action is a duplicative proceeding. Thus, the Court finds that it would be appropriate to have plaintiff's claims resolved in an earlier filed action. Even if the prior pending action doctrine did not apply," Judge Patti Saris said in a court order dated Dec. 6.

"The court would likely dismiss the action where it appears improperly venued in the District of Massachusetts," Saris added.

In 1972, Walter Wetzel, a former president of the National Congress of American Indians, proposed the logo modeled after the likeness on the Buffalo nickel. But Native Americans and advocates have been questioning the use of the name and image for the Washington D.C. football team since the 1960s.

Advocates of changing the team's name say that the logo and name fulfill a racist stereotype.

In a 12 page complaint against the National Football League, the Washington Redskins and Daniel Snyder, Ronald Satish Emrit accused the league of "tortious acts of defamation and the unauthorized appropriation of a trademark using the 'likeness' of Native Americans in a racist and offensive manner."

Redskins owner Snyder has resisted a name change, defended the logo and name and gone on offense, courting Native American leaders and drum up support for the name.

Emrit argued in his complaint that because he was born in Boston and grew up in Newton before heading to college in Rhode Island and was "considering" moving back to the commonwealth in 2020, Massachusetts had jurisdiction.

Emirit, who listed himself as his own representation, argued the use of the likeness was a civil rights violation by using a racist and offensive trademark against Native Americans/ American Indians.

He was requesting $2 billion in relief if it leads to a class action suit on behalf of all Native Americans/American Indians.

Emrit who lives with his sister in Maryland identifies as African American and Native American, filed nearly identical complaints Maryland, in Florida, where he has an address, in Washington D.C., and Iowa.

Emrit has also filed several other lawsuits, including one against President Donald Trump in the Southern District of Ohio. There he was declared a "harassing and vexatious litigator," and was prohibited from filing any additional complaints, unless they were certified as being in the correct venue.

Previously:

• Change Redskins Name To The Redhawks: Activists
• What's In A Name: Washington Redskins Controversy
• Poll: 9 in 10 Native Americans Don't Mind 'Redskins ...

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).