Former New York Jets linebacker Erin Henderson is planning to sue the team for wrongful termination and disability discrimination, his attorney confirmed Tuesday. Henderson, currently a free agent, is seeking $3.3 million in compensatory damages -- the amount of his unpaid 2016 salary, plus his non guaranteed 2017 salary. In February, the Jets declined to exercise his 2017 option for $2.25 million. Henderson, 31, also is seeking punitive damages.
His New Jersey-based attorney, Lawrence Lavigne, sent a notification letter, dated Sept. 14, to Jets chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson. The letter said he'd file the lawsuit in New Jersey Superior Court on Friday if the two sides can't agree to a private settlement. Henderson's lawsuit states he suffers from bipolar disorder. According to the lawsuit, the Jets failed to accommodate his "disability and wrongfully terminated his employment," and "failed to have effective policies and procedures to protect employees from discrimination."
Henderson began last season as the Jets' starting inside linebacker. He played in five games, with four starts, before the Jets placed him on the NFL list Oct. 22, effectively ending his season. The Jets never publicly provided a reason for the transaction.
Henderson began his career with the Vikings, where he struggled with alcohol abuse. He served a four-game suspension in 2009 for violating the NFL's banned substance policy, and was released by Vikings in 2014 after two DUI arrests. He sat out the entire 2014 season, cleaned up his life, and signed with the Jets in 2015, when he played well as a backup.
He struggled with team-prescribed medication Seroquel, which was used to treat his bipolar disorder, Chapman said. The drug made Henderson sleepy, and occasionally late to meetings. Chapman said defensive coaches and teammates regularly berated Henderson for "being hungover" and "still drunk" when he showed up. No team personnel ever checked Henderson for possible side effects of the medication, Chapman said.
