Colin Kaepernick Sues Adoptive Parents for $21 Million in Reparations

In a stunning move, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has filed a lawsuit against his adoptive parents seeking $21 million in reparations. The lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court of Northern California, alleges that Kaepernick’s adoptive parents failed to provide him with the necessary resources and support to reach his full potential as an athlete and person. Kaepernick was adopted by Teresa and Rick Kaepernick when he was just five years old. He went on to become one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history, leading the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII in 2012. However, despite his success on the field, Kaepernick has faced criticism from some who claim that he is ungrateful for what his adoptive parents have done for him. In response to these claims, Kaepernick’s legal team released a statement saying that “Colin’s adoption into this family was not a free ride or an act of charity – it was an exchange of services and resources that should have been provided by any responsible parent or guardian.” The statement goes on to say that “despite being adopted into a loving home with two caring parents, Colin did not receive adequate resources or support throughout his childhood and adolescence which prevented him from reaching his full potential as an athlete and person." The lawsuit seeks $21 million in reparations for what it calls “the lost opportunities caused by [Kaepernick's] adoptive parents' negligence". It also seeks punitive damages "to punish [Kaepernick's] adoptive parents for their egregious conduct" as well as attorney fees and costs associated with bringing the case forward. Kaepernick’s legal team says they are confident that they will prevail in court but acknowledge that this is likely to be a long process given the complexity of the case. For now though, all eyes are on this groundbreaking case as it makes its way through the courts system.