Friday, February 14, 2014
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Mike Merriweather has settled a federal lawsuit claiming he was fired from his promotions job with a western Pennsylvania casino because of his race.
A spokesman for The Meadows Racetrack & Casino declined comment as did Merriweather’s attorney. Terms of the settlement haven’t been disclosed.
Merriweather, who was a Pro Bowl linebacker for the Steelers during the 1980s, claimed the casino’s white management made disparaging remarks about his being black and potentially violent, sometime in jest, but other times in connection with an alleged dispute about his job.
Merriweather contends he was hired as Director of Sports Marketing to promote events that might attract other athletes to the casino about 15 miles south of Pittsburgh. Merriweather contends he was fired in January 2012 and hasn’t been paid commissions.