The Washington Redskins are suing five Native Americans who complained about the team’s name to the US Patent and Trademark Office. Furthermore, a federal judge apparently doesn’t feel that the lawsuit is without merit, and won’t dismiss it.
Judge Gerald Bruce Lee suggested during a hearing Friday that it would be unprecedented to dismiss the team’s lawsuit against five Native Americans who complained about the name to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
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The team could have challenged the ruling in appellate court in Washington, but sought help instead in a venue that gives it more options, by going to a trial court to sue the Native Americans who complained in the first place.
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A lawyer for the Native Americans, Jesse Witten, argued that his clients should be left out of the dispute and that the lawsuit against them should be dismissed. But team attorney Robert Raskopf said Amanda Blackhorse and the other defendants belong in court because they’re the ones who filed the petition.
The judge seemed to agree and said he would issue a written ruling at a later date.
Where’s Tony Wyllie when you need him? This is going to end so well for everyone involved. “Why don’t we sue the people offended by our team name? I’m sure that’s going to bring everyone over to our side!”
