Davante Adams, Raiders, Chiefs facing lawsuit over WR's postgame shove
Las Vegas Raiders star Davante Adams, his team, and the Kansas City Chiefs are among the five defendants facing a civil lawsuit filed by Park Zebley, a video production crew member who says the wide receiver shoved him to the ground after a game in 2022, reports David Hudnall of the Kansas City Star.
Adams shoved Zebley on his way to the locker room following the Raiders' 30-29 loss to the Chiefs on Oct. 10 at Arrowhead Stadium. The All-Pro receiver, who apologized afterward, was charged with misdemeanor assault.
"A municipal misdemeanor battery charge is not sufficient," Zebley told Hudnall. "I'm looking for justice. You can't shove someone down and walk off like it didn't happen. Not in real life."
Zebley, 20, alleges in the lawsuit that he feared for his life in the immediate aftermath of the incident and was diagnosed with concussion symptoms. He also said he was targeted online. He filed the complaint this month in Jackson County Circuit Court, according to Hudnall.
The lawsuit alleges battery by Adams, liability by the Raiders as his employer, and negligence on the part of the Chiefs, the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority, and Landmark Events Staffing.
"(They) all had some degree of responsibility for providing security services during gameday to keep unfortunate interactions like this from occurring," Zebley's attorney, Dan Curry, said.
"We're in the beginning stages of this. But (Zebley) is looking for compensation for what happened to him, and if a jury has to decide, then that's who'll decide," Curry added.
The NFL is expected to wait until Adams' legal process ends to make a decision on whether he'll be disciplined.