Final Martin Litigation Dismissed

Published: February 12, 2015 01:22 pm EST

On January 22, 2015, the Marion County Superior Court issued an Order dismissing, with prejudice, the last of the pending lawsuits filed by Eddie Martin Jr. (Martin) against the Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC).

As a result of the parties’ agreement to dismiss the case, Martin’s suit against the IHRC has been dropped permanently and Martin will recover no money. This is the third and last of the suits filed against the Commission by Martin. In the first case, the Indiana Court of Appeals found in favour of Commission staff; the second case was also dismissed with prejudice by party agreement, without the payment of any funds by or on behalf of the Commission or its representatives.

“The Commission staff’s Court of Appeals victory and the dismissal of the remaining lawsuits filed in state court make clear that the State of Indiana was in no way responsible for any of Mr. Martin’s business failures or financial duress,” said Joe Gorajec, executive director of the IHRC.

In April 2010, the Commission initiated an investigation against Martin, which included a consensual entry onto Martin’s farm in Ocala, Florida. On October 3, 2012, Martin, a former commissioner of the IHRC and former executive director of the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA), filed a lawsuit in the Marion Superior Court against the IHRC as a result of an investigation of Martin by the Commission. The investigation was prompted by a written complaint filed with the IHRC by a Florida veterinarian who claimed that Martin abused and neglected horses in his care. In his case, Martin accused the IHRC of trespass, tortuous interference with employment, tortuous interference with contractual relationship, and defamation. Martin alleged that as a result of the Commission’s investigation, he suffered “a near complete loss of his business and enormous injury to his reputation, person, and/or property, all in an amount not less than Thirteen Million Dollars ($13,000,000).” Martin also alleged he had suffered “enormous emotional pain and suffering.” As a result of the dismissal, Martin is permanently banned from initiating litigation on this matter again.

In the case decided by the Indiana Court of Appeals which was filed against the IHRC as well as the IHRC’s executive director, former chairman, and director of security, Martin alleged, among other things, racial or class-based discrimination, deprivation of civil rights, tortuous interference with employment, tortuous interference with a contractual relationship, unreasonable search and seizure, and defamation. Martin initially demanded $700,000 plus punitive damages. After a second computation of damages, Martin’s claim increased to $13,000,000. That case was concluded when it was dismissed in its entirety, with prejudice by party agreement.

At the IHRC’s next business meeting, scheduled March 10, 2015, staff will provide the Commission with an update regarding this litigation.

(IHRC)

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