National Football League

Ex-Raiders assistant sues Cable, team

Published Feb. 23, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Former Oakland Raiders assistant Randy Hanson sued head coach Tom Cable and the team on Tuesday for damages suffered during a training camp scuffle that resulted in Hanson being treated for a fractured jaw and broken teeth.

The suit alleges that Cable "without warning or provocation" grabbed Hanson during an Aug. 5 coaches meeting at the team's Napa hotel. Cable then threw Hanson against the wall, causing the left side of Hanson's face to strike a table, then hit Hanson while he was on the floor, the lawsuit said.

The suit alleges that after Cable was restrained by the other coaches, he threatened to kill Hanson. Defensive assistants John Marshall, Willie Brown and Lionel Washington also attended the meeting, the lawsuit says.

Hanson's lawsuit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, accuses Cable of assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It says the Raiders made only a cursory investigation of the attack and ratified Cable's conduct by failing to discipline him and by not allowing Hanson to remain as an assistant coach.

Cable and the Raiders weren't immediately available for comment.

Hanson said he wanted to return to his job as an assistant defensive backs coach, but was told on Dec. 8 that he could only come back for a personnel department job. Hanson said he wasn't allowed to attend home games and was told to stay away from the team's cafeteria and from parts of the building where players and coaches worked.

Hanson said he was told the conditions would last four weeks, but the lawsuit says Raiders owner Al Davis told him on Jan. 28 that he would no longer be allowed to coach.

Napa County district attorney Gary Lieberstein announced in October that Cable wouldn't face criminal charges in the case. Lieberstein cited inconsistencies in Hanson's story that weren't corroborated by the three assistant coaches in the room.

Hanson initially didn't tell police who attacked him out of what he called loyalty to the team, but later accused Cable of the attack.

Hanson is seeking an undisclosed amount of damages in excess of $25,000. He is suing for general damages, past and future lost wages, medical expenses, punitive damages and court costs.