In a shocking turn of events, former Jacksonville Jaguars employee Tom Johnson, who was fired from his position as a team security guard after being caught stealing merchandise from players, has now filed a lawsuit against popular sports betting company FanDuel.
Johnson’s lawsuit alleges that FanDuel was complicit in his actions by providing him with inside information about the Jaguars players’ schedules and whereabouts, which he claims enabled him to steal items without being detected. The lawsuit also claims that FanDuel encouraged him to steal from the players in order to gain an edge in their fantasy sports competitions.
Johnson’s attorney, Rachel Goldstein, held a press conference outside the Florida courthouse where the lawsuit was filed, calling FanDuel’s actions “reprehensible” and demanding justice for her client.
“Tom was just a pawn in FanDuel’s game of greed and deception,” Goldstein told reporters. “They exploited his access to the Jaguars players and used him to further their own profit-driven motives. It’s time for FanDuel to be held accountable for their actions.”
FanDuel, for their part, has denied any wrongdoing and dismissed Johnson’s lawsuit as baseless.
“Tom Johnson’s allegations are simply not true,” a spokesperson for FanDuel said in a statement. “We have strict policies in place to prevent any form of cheating or unethical behavior, and we will vigorously defend ourselves against these false claims.”
The timing of Johnson’s lawsuit is particularly interesting, as it comes on the heels of a series of high-profile scandals involving sports betting companies and their relationships with professional athletes. Just last month, DraftKings was fined $8.4 million by the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive advertising practices.
Legal experts predict a long and contentious legal battle between Johnson and FanDuel, with Johnson seeking damages in excess of $1 million for emotional distress and loss of income. As the case unfolds, sports fans and industry insiders will be watching closely to see how it plays out and what implications it may have for the future of sports betting in America.