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Ex-Lions video-ops employees claim discrimination

Detroit — Two former Detroit Lions employees have filed a lawsuit against the team and the National Football League claiming they were discriminated against because of their age and race when they were fired in January.

The men, Michael Richardson, 52, of Taylor, and Robert Yanagi, 58, of Northville, were employees in the Lions’ video-operations department. Yanagi was Richardon’s boss.

The lawsuit was filed April 5 in Wayne County Circuit Court, with Richardson and Yanagi seeking damages as a result of loss of past and future earnings, emotional distress and damage to their professional reputations.