Judge dismisses Mayfield lawsuit against NASCAR

Judge dismisses Mayfield lawsuit against NASCAR


Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(May 18, 2010)

CHARLOTTE—U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen made a surprise ruling Tuesday as he dismissed all claims by owner-driver Jeremy Mayfield in his lawsuit against NASCAR over a drug test in May 2009 that NASCAR said was positive for methamphetamines.
NASCAR filed a motion last November for Mullen to rule on the case based on the pleadings already submitted, and Mullen issued his ruling Tuesday afternoon in favor of NASCAR. There was no hearing on the motion.
“Plaintiffs (Mayfield) agreed to release Defendants from all claims arising under a negligence theory or otherwise; Plaintiffs thereby waived their right to pursue their claims for defamation, unfair and deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, and negligence,” Mullen wrote in his order. “Plaintiffs also failed to allege facts to support each of their claims. … Plaintiffs claims are hereby dismissed.”
Mullen’s ruling can be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Mayfield, who was indefinitely suspended from NASCAR on May 9, 2009, had sued NASCAR for breach of contract, discrimination and defamation in an attempt to get back on the track and for financial damages. He won an injunction to participate in NASCAR in July but never got back on track.
The injunction was later stayed pending appeal, and Mayfield eventually asked for the court to drop the injunction so the case could proceed more quickly toward trial. A trial was scheduled for September 2010 at the earliest.
Mayfield has denied using methamphetamines and contends the drug-test findings that prompted his suspension resulted from a combination of prescription drug Adderall, which is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and over-the-counter Claritin-D allergy medicine. He also contended that NASCAR must follow guidelines that regulate federal agencies. NASCAR denies that Aegis Sciences Corp., which conducts the NASCAR drug-testing program, must follow those regulations.